AIRIC'S STORY

The CHOC 24-hour pediatric transport team picked up Airic Ramirez, 12, from his pediatrician's office in Pinon Hills just two days before Christmas last year. Bacteria had attacked the aortic valve in Airic's heart, and he needed large doses of antibiotics to combat the infection.

But on December 29, tests showed that Airic's aortic valve was no longer working properly. Airic was immediately rushed into emergency surgery where he received a new mechanical aortic valve.

The surgery went smoothly. But 10 days later, Airic's vital signs started to slip. CHOC physicians from five different medical specialties, the hospital staff and Airic's family worked together to help make sure that he would be physically and emotionally ready for another surgery.

On January 17, 2006, CHOC cardiac surgeon Richard Gates, M.D., found that the mechanical aortic valve had pulled away from Airic's heart tissue. Dr. Gates replaced it with an aortic valve made out of human tissue.

It was a very complex and difficult surgery. Dr. Gates had to perform a heart bypass procedure in order to re-route the circulation in Airic's heart. Diana and Rick Ramirez were told their son's chances of surviving surgery were quite slim. While Dr. Gates worked so hard to save Airic's life, Diana prayed, and had a feeling that everything would be fine.

And it was. After surgery that night, Dr. Gates slept on the floor in Airic's room. He wanted to be close by, just in case he was needed. "When I thanked him a couple of days later, he was so modest. He said it was nothing, just part of the job," Diana recalls. Airic went home on February 17, almost two months after he was admitted to CHOC.