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A 13-year-old girl is in critical condition at Texas Children’s Hospital a week after testing positive for COVID-19 and suffering cardiac arrest.
Alina Valenzuela, 13, suffers from a previously undetected condition called myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, according to a GoFundMe page created by family member Miriam Tervino. Complications from COVID-19 affected Alina’s heart and caused the cardiac arrest on January 11, Trevino wrote on the fundraising page. She was placed on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine before being transferred from a hospital near her home in Pearsall, Texas Children’s on January 15.
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On January 16, Trevino posted an update indicating that Alina had had heart surgery.
“We know Alina is a fighter, even after having cardiac arrest she refused to give up and came back to us. Alina’s desire to live and be with her family is strong, ”the article read. “Although she is very sick and has a long way ahead of her, we have faith and believe in the power of God and the power of prayer.”
Pediatricians and children’s hospitals have reported an increase in young recovered COVID-19 patients with persistent heart problems. In December, the American Academy of Pediatrics asked children and adolescents who want to resume sport after infection with the coronavirus to seek treatment from a doctor for heart risks.
Symptoms may include dizziness, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, fatigue.
Since Tuesday evening, Alina’s condition has been considered critical. So far, the fundraising page has raised over $ 25,000 to help the family pay their medical bills.
Todd Ackerman contributed to this report.
Twitter.com/reporterjulie
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