Family Connects Nurse Discovers Dangerous Heart Condition
Webb Cummins was doing what three-week-old babies do most of the time. He slept as Genesis Family Connects nurse, Cari Coudron, talked with Webb’s mother, Jennifer LeVora-Cummins.
Genesis Family Connects is a program of home visits by nurses to check on the health and general environment of new moms and infants. The visits help babies get off to a healthy start and reduce emergency department visits.
But when Coudron listened to Webb’s heart as part of his exam, she was shocked.
“His heart rate was 220 to 240 beats per minute. He was showing no signs of distress. He was just sleeping. It was a shock to us,’’ Coudron said. “I asked Jennifer to call 9-1-1 immediately.’’
Had Coudron not been there on this day, at this time, the condition eventually could have become dangerous.
“Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is not something you expect in these visits. They are well baby visits. That was why it was a shock,” Coudron said. “Had the SVT not been discovered, cardiac arrest is possible. Then, it can become dangerous.”
Webb spent time at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital for monitoring and treatment with medication to regulate his heart beat. He is doing fine.
“Cari will forever be our hero. She saved our son’s life,’’ Jennifer LeVora-Cummins said. “She is a true gift from God and was meant to be at our house that day.
“She continues to check in on us and make sure we are doing OK.”
Coudron already knew she loved Genesis Family Connects before the day in November.
“I love this program so much. Family Connects gives us an amazing opportunity to keep families healthy,’’ Coudron added. “The visits provide families with an extra set of eyes.”
Genesis Family Connects is made possible by generous community support.
The Quad Cities River Bandits have issued a challenge to the region to match the club’s recent grant of $37,500 to support Genesis Family Connects. Other sponsors include Vibrant Credit Union; Bally's Quad Cities; Scott County Kids; Holmes Murphy; Clinton County VNA Foundation; Quad City Bank and Trust; and, The Standard Insurance Company.
