Diagnosis
The Early Signs
For over a year, Kara’s body was sending out warning signals that were difficult to decipher. What started as subtle mottling on her legs gradually turned into deep purple discoloration, known as cyanosis, in her feet and knees. At the time, we didn't realize this was the first sign of her heart struggling to push oxygenated blood to her extremities.
The Crisis Point
By early December, the situation reached a breaking point. These photos show the cyanosis spreading from her legs to her chest, arms, and shoulders. We now know her heart was pumping less than 2 liters of blood per minute—less than half of what a healthy heart requires. Her whole body was essentially being starved of oxygen.
Hospitalization & Lifelines
On December 11th, Kara was admitted to the Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary. The team immediately established her 'lifelines':
-
The PICC Line: A temporary arm line used to start aggressive therapy the moment she arrived.
-
The Caripul Pump: A 24/7 infusion device that delivers the high-potency medication her heart needs to function.
-
The Central Line: A permanent port in her chest that Kara is now learning to manage.
The Progress & Christmas
The change is visible. Within 2 hours of having the pump on, the deep purple 'webbing' on her skin began to fade, replaced by the glow of healthy, oxygenated blood. While the transition to this new equipment is exhausting and comes with severe 'oxygen headaches' as her brain adjusts, seeing her color return is the miracle we’ve been praying for. She is a warrior.