Toddler from South Georgia defies all odds after being born with a serious, rare congenital heart defect

TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) – A 3-year-old Tifton boy is living a normal life despite being born with a rare congenital heart defect.

When Cameron Protsko was 24 weeks pregnant with her daughter, Miller, she was told she had a rare congenital heart defect called Ebstein's anomaly and a circular shunt that caused blood in her heart to flow in the opposite direction. Her mother, Cameron, learned of Miller's heart defect when she was 24 weeks pregnant.

Cameron says they were told Miller's case was severe and she might not survive the birth. She went to see pediatric cardiologist Dr. Benjamin Toole in Albany before driving to Atlanta to see Dr. Erik Michelfelder, who gave her medication to improve Miller's blood flow.

Dr. MichelFelder suggested that she give birth in Atlanta rather than at her home in Tifton so they would be closer to the hospital.

Seconds after her birth, Miller's heart rate dropped and she was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston Hospital for monitoring. Pediatric cardiologist Dr. Paul Chai performed the open-heart surgery and, to her parents' relief, it was a success.

Dr. Chai explained that Miller's single-chamber heart condition would require two more surgeries before she would be healthy again.

She had her second operation when she was about four months old, and the last one is scheduled to take place when she is four years old.

Meanwhile, three-year-old Miller gives back by giving gifts to the child patients.

She is active and sociable and loves to dress up.

Miller recently dressed up as a doctor in honor of the doctors on her ward who saved her life.

WALB's McKenzie Blaze will provide further details on WALB News 10 at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

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