Adopted baby's unexpected heart problem brought unexpected joy

By American Heart Association News

Lottie Zoog underwent a partial foot amputation and an open-heart surgery, but is still all smiles with her adoptive family. From left: Vanessa, Lottie, Noah, and Christopher Zoog.
Lottie Zoog had a partial foot amputation and an open-heart surgery, and is still all smiles with her adoptive family. From left: Vanessa, Lottie, Noah and Christopher Zoog. (Photo courtesy of the Zoog family)

When their hopes of adopting a child from China were stretched thin by years of wait, Vanessa and Chris Zoog asked for a baby with a physical issue – one who could use an extra dollop of love. Doing so, they learned, would expedite the adoption process.

The New Jersey family, which includes their son Noah, talked about what sort of issue they could handle. A cleft palate? Sure. An oversized birthmark? Of course. A malformed leg or misshapen arm? Certainly.

But one health issue scared them more than any other: A heart problem.

"My husband and I didn't want to deal with something that wasn't visible, a vital organ we wouldn't be able to see to know what was going on," Vanessa said. "We were really scared. We didn't discuss it; (we) just decided it wasn't an option."

In July 2010, they adopted Lottie, a baby girl with a deformed foot. But within a year, they learned Lottie had a more serious problem.

First, she developed a 105-degree fever and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Antibiotics weren't helping. Doctors ran more tests on the little girl who weighed only 14 pounds.

Lottie had a hole in her heart.

"I was immediately filled with a sense of dread," Chris said.

But soon, confidence in Lottie's medical team gave him and Vanessa a sense of calm and trust for Lottie's open-heart surgery.

Then, a few days before the surgery on Sept. 20, 2011, Noah celebrated his seventh birthday with a party at The Franklin Institute, a science museum in Philadelphia. An exhibit that day was all about the human heart and included a video of open-heart surgery.

"One of my girlfriends was with me," Vanessa said. "She asked me if I was OK. Actually, I was. I took it as a sign that everything will be OK."

And basically, it has been.

Increased blood flow to Lottie's brain after the surgery has caused migraines, but she takes them in stride. The same goes for the partial amputation of her foot three years ago. Now, she uses a prosthetic device. At a recent appointment, her cardiologist said she's doing great.

Lottie's scar is shaped like an exclamation point. It's fitting for this enthusiastic girl who loves cheerleading, running, her friends and family, and life.

The Zoogs enjoying a family vacation together. (Photo courtesy of the Zoog family)
The Zoogs enjoying a family vacation. (Photo courtesy of the Zoog family)

"She goes through life with this amazing joy that has made me reevaluate the way I look at things," Vanessa said.

Chris is especially proud of his daughter's patience when other kids ask about her foot, her scar or her prosthetics – the one she wears most of the time, and the other she uses when running.

"She's a tenacious little girl with all the confidence in the world," he said. "The experience brought our family closer together for sure, and as scary as the whole process was, it taught us not to take life, or each other, for granted."

It's taught them the importance of sharing their story, too.

Recently, Vanessa and Lottie spoke at the American Heart Association's Garden State Go Red for Heart Luncheon. Vanessa, a clinical social worker and therapist, sent the video to one of her clients who was undergoing heart surgery. He later told her he watched it 15 times while in recovery.

"I've told other clients that not everything works out how we've expected," Vanessa said, "but sometimes that makes everything better. You have to take what life gives you."

Stories From the Heart chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers and advocates.

If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected]


American Heart Association News Stories

American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in American Heart Association scientific journals or presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the American Heart Association’s official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Association’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.