Young Heart Patients Receive Care Close to Home Thanks to Intermountain Health

An unexpected bond has formed between two Billings families when they faced similar trials and triumphs when caring for their young children with serious heart conditions.

The Tallon and Schultz families have navigated the ups and downs with the support of Hugh Bigg, DO, a pediatric cardiologist at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital.

Their journeys are a story of resilience, friendship, and the importance of care close to home.

Demi Tallon’s son, Lenox, was born a month early with no complications, but at just 18 days old, he stopped breathing in her arms.

“Thank God my husband was there with me, and he called 911,” Tallon said.

Lenox was rushed to Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital where he would need to be revived twice, before being flown by medical helicopter to Denver. It was there that doctors diagnosed him with coarctation of the aorta, a condition where a part of the aorta is narrowed, restricting blood flow in his body.

“It’s like a little archway that kind of just got pinched off, so all the blood wasn’t going to the rest of his body,” Tallon said.

Lenox needed to undergo an open-heart procedure to repair the life-threatening defect.

During this same time, Kayleen Schultz and her family had also been grappling with a serious heart condition of their daughter, Gabby.

During a prenatal exam, Gabby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare condition where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped, impacting the flow of blood through the heart and the body.

When they left the doctor’s office that day, they were unsure if Gabby would survive after birth.  After consulting with Michael Gordon, MD, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Intermountain St. Vincent, they learned about the three surgeries that would be needed to give Gabby a chance at life.

Gabby underwent her first open-heart surgery at just 5 days old in Denver.

The Schultz family initially spent 38 days in the hospital and would return multiple times for additional procedures.  At 5 months old, Gabby underwent her second open-heart surgery. That’s when the Schultz and Tallon families connected.

Demi’s husband, Zach, knew Schultz from high school and they were friends on social media.

“He knew of Gabby’s heart condition because I had shared a lot about it, so he reached out to me right away when they were on their way to Denver,” said Schultz.

Their shared experiences created a strong bond, providing emotional support and understanding during some of the most difficult times of their lives.

“It was just nice to have familiarity and things in common. There is comfort in that,” said Schultz.

Upon returning to Billings, both families navigated specialized care for their infants in the healing and recovery process. They met Dr. Bigg, whose expertise and compassionate care have been instrumental in their children’s ongoing treatment.

Both mothers emphasize the importance of having specialized care close to home. Tallon shared her worry about leaving Denver but was relieved to know that a high level of care is available at home. “It was scary to come back from Denver,” Tallon said. “But Dr. Bigg has been a huge blessing. He’s been so great to work with.”

Schultz shares a similar sentiment, saying that Dr. Bigg’s expertise has been an answer to prayers.

“As serious of a condition as Gabby has, we wouldn’t be able to be in Billings if Dr. Bigg wasn’t here,” said Schultz.

Initially, Gabby saw Dr. Bigg several times a month to monitor any changes in her heart function.

“There’s been a lot of times where she’s had scares, and I’ve just texted him, and he’s got me right into his office,” Schulz said.

Schultz shared a particularly harrowing experience. “In August, he saved Gabby’s life,” she says. “She had a really bad reaction to one of her medications. He did an EKG and immediately identified the issue.”

The Tallon and Schultz families have found strength in their shared experiences and the support of their community. “Kayleen is now one of my good friends, and we connected through our little babies,” Tallon said. “She’s been a huge blessing in my life.”

They are also involved with the Montana Bravehearts organization, a nonprofit organization that supports families dealing with congenital heart defects. Dr. Bigg also serves as a board member for the organization.

As they continue their journeys, the Tallon and Schultz families remain grateful for the care and support they have received, knowing they are not alone with friends and medical providers by their sides.

Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital Foundation held its 11th annual Call for Kids Mediathon on April 9 to support families in the region and patients like Gabby and Lenox. Funds raised will benefit children’s services at St. Vincent, home to the only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Surgery program in eastern Montana.

“Gifts received through our Call for Kids Mediathon help make it possible for St. Vincent to provide our pediatric patients with a continuum of care that is unparalleled in our region,” said Tyler Wiltgen, executive director of the St. Vincent Foundation. “Philanthropic support for our pediatric programs is making a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable patients and their families and is one way in which we fulfill our mission.”

By donating, it ensures that the youngest, most fragile patients have access to the best technology, programs and facilities to heal close to home.

Donations can also be made online at svhkids.org.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.