In a Heartbeat

In 1960, Betty and Larry Vinton become the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl named Kimberly. When Larry's aunt, a nurse, comes to visit, she suggests they take their ten-day-old daughter to the pediatrician immediately. With growing alarm, the couple obeys, never knowing how the diagnosis will change their lives forever. A cardiologist confirms the pediatrician's suspicions: Kim has a complex heart defect, but she is too small and too young for the necessary surgery. Despite a grim prognosis, Kim survives and thrives, needing surgeries at three months, four years, and again at thirty-two. In a Heartbeat: A baby's heart, a surgeon's hands, a life of miracles shares author Kim Russell's amazing true story of family love and of one little girl's courage against the odds. "This book.should be helpful to any family who is living with a loved one with congenital heart disease, and is an excellent reminder that life can be well lived even in the face of severe medical problems." -Michael E. McConnell, MD, Sibley Heart Center cardiologist "I hope my tears didn't stain the pages. I loved it!!!" -Melissa Bernandino, mother of a pediatric congenital heart patient