A New Heartbeat: Kayne’s Journey Through Advanced Pediatric Heart Surgery at Oklahoma Children's Hospital OU Health

When Jacy Hesskamp learned her newborn son Kayne had a heart murmur, she never imagined he would make history through a new surgical procedure at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health and give hope to future pediatric heart patients.

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, in 2008, Kayne was diagnosed with aortic stenosis at just a month and a half old. This condition, characterized by a narrowing of the aortic valve, would shape the next 14 years of their lives.

"We always knew that one day Kayne would have to have surgery, but we never knew when it was going to happen," Jacy said. "We just knew it would be during his young adult life."

Despite the diagnosis, Jacy was determined to give Kayne a normal childhood. On the advice of his cardiologist in Tulsa, she treated him like any other boy. He played with other children, was involved in sports and lived life like any other child would.

"I didn't let any limitations hamper us," Jacy said. “Kayne has no limitations. He loves soccer, and while all his coaches knew he had a heart condition, he was still able to do everything every other boy could do.”

As Kayne approached his teenage years, however, his condition began to change. In late 2022, when Kayne was 14 years old, his doctors determined that surgery was necessary. This news came as a shock to the family, who had been anticipating surgery much later in Kayne's life.

Kayne’s cardiologist connected the family to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital and with pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Harold Burkhart, M.D., professor of surgery and Chief of the Division of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine Oklahoma City and director of the Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgical Program at the Oklahoma Children's Hospital.

"It was very traumatic for us," Jacy said. "There was a lot of planning ahead, which allowed for a lot of 'what ifs' that came through your mind. But Dr. Burkhart was always there to answer questions when we had them.”

Recognizing the emotional toll this news took on her son, Jacy proactively increased Kayne's therapy sessions to help him process his feelings and prepare for the surgery. The care team went above and beyond to prepare the family for the surgery, providing informational pamphlets and answering all their questions.

The surgery at Oklahoma Children's Hospital, the only comprehensive pediatric cardiac program in Oklahoma, involved a new approach to pediatric aortic valve repair. Dr. Burkhart and his team utilized a technique called upsized ring annuloplasty and autologous leaflet augmentation which involves placing a ring around the aortic valve to strengthen it and using the patient's own tissue to enhance the valve's leaflets.

“Kayne had two problems with his aortic valve. It leaked and it was too narrow, and usually we would cut that valve out and replace it with a prosthetic valve,” Dr. Burkhart said. “But you're better off if you can repair the valve, and the patient can keep their own tissue, because then they don't have to be on a blood thinner, and it’s better for their heart and better for their lifetime.”

Dr. Burkhart and the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital cardiac team were able to patch a portion of Kayne’s valve that was deficient with part of his aorta and aortic wall, making the valve leaflets bigger. He then put a prosthetic ring in the valve, keeping the valve in a in a perfectly symmetric orientation, so those reconstructed parts of the valve wouldn’t leak anymore.

“By patching the valve, I could fit a bigger ring in, which meant that it was no longer narrowed. Then, by patching the leaflet and making it bigger, we got rid of the leakage of the valve,” Dr. Burkhart said. “He was able to keep his own tissue, which is a much better situation than replacing his valve.”

The team made history as the procedure was the first time this technique had been used globally in a pediatric case.

“I presented this at our national meeting of the Society for Thoracic Surgery,” he said. “This approach aims to preserve the patient's native valve, potentially avoiding the need for valve replacement. For young patients like Kayne, this can mean fewer surgeries in the future and a better quality of life.”

The procedure is particularly beneficial for children with bicuspid aortic valves, a condition Kayne has, where the valve has only two flaps instead of the usual three. By reinforcing the valve and improving its function, the surgery helps reduce strain on the heart and improves blood flow.

"The staff was amazing, walking us through that," she said. "Dr. Burkhart is such a personable guy too. He has great bedside manner."

A Speedy Recovery

Kayne's recovery surpassed expectations. Initially told to prepare for a one to two-week hospital stay, Kayne was ready to go home after just five days. The nurses at Oklahoma Children's Hospital left a lasting impression on Kayne. He recalls one nurse who bonded with him over their shared love of candy and another who would walk the halls of the hospital with him.

Six months after the surgery, Kayne was back to his active lifestyle.

“It took about six months for me to get back into soccer,” Kayne said. Today, he’s preparing to try out for the homeschool varsity soccer team.

Looking to the future, Jacy is optimistic. While there's a slim possibility Kayne might need another procedure someday, his doctors believe he'll never need open-heart surgery again. Recently, Kayne received a year's clearance from his cardiologist, a milestone that brings immense relief to the family.

Thanks to innovative procedures like the one performed at Oklahoma Children's Hospital, children with congenital heart defects have a chance for healthier, more active futures. As Kayne continues to thrive, he is back to doing what he loves most — playing soccer and hanging out with his friends.

“I feel now I am back up to my full strength,” he said. “I just say thank you. I just feel like all the people there cared a lot.

As the state’s only children’s hospital, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital brings together expert doctors and nurses dedicated to providing the best care possible. For Dr. Burkhart and the rest of the cardiology team, Kayne’s surgeries opened new possibilities for healing for countless other pediatric heart patients.

“Whenever we see somebody with a complex aortic valve problem like his, we now think ‘what if we can repair it?’” he said. “I think it just it offers new ways of making valves that were always deemed unrepairable, possibly repairable.”

Learn more about comprehensive, multidisciplinary pediatric heart care at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital or speak to an expert by calling (405)271-4700.