The Dodd family’s fight for Meyer’s future
Melissa Dodd’s first pregnancy was healthy and completely free of complications.
Twenty weeks into her second pregnancy, Melissa had an anatomy scan that revealed her baby, Meyer’s, heart was not developing properly.
Following the scan, her obstetrician offered her the option to terminate the pregnancy, saying, “The diagnosis is severe, and some families wouldn’t choose to continue the pregnancy.”
The Dodds knew that terminating the pregnancy wasn’t an option, and were referred to Dr. Nita Doshi at CHOC, who remains Meyer’s cardiologist today. After meeting with Dr. Doshi, the Dodd family felt reassured. Melissa shared, “That day, we knew we had made the right choice.”
Meyer’s heart condition and the journey of monitoring and care
Meyer was treated through the Congenital Heart Program, an affiliation between CHOC and UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.
He was diagnosed with a double outlet right ventricle, a heart condition where both the main blood vessel to the lungs and the one to the rest of the body come from the same side of the heart. This makes it harder for the heart to send oxygen-rich blood to the body.
Meyer had seven major heart defects that required repair, requiring Melissa to undergo echocardiograms at CHOC’s Fetal Care Center every other week during her pregnancy to monitor his development.
As Meyer grew, his pulmonary artery, the blood vessel that carries blood without oxygen from the heart to the lungs to get oxygen, wasn’t developing properly.
The Dodds met with the CHOC team to discuss what would happen after Meyer was born.
Coping with uncertainty and explaining the situation to their young son
Melissa shared that pregnancy is already an experience filled with uncertainty, but when she discovered her baby wasn’t well, her worry and fear deepened.
Melissa and her husband, Cooper, also had to consider how to talk to their older son, Dawson, about the situation. At the time, Dawson was just two years old, but his awareness and curiosity made it important for his parents to be open with him.
Instead of pretending everything was fine, they talked Dawson through it. They got books about the heart, surgery and what doctors do. They even let him join a call with Dr. Doshi to ask his questions. It was a way of having him be involved, even in the face of such uncertainty.
The Dodd family had to make numerous decisions and adjustments along the way. They weren’t sure how long Meyer would be in the hospital, and with his Christmas Eve due date, they had to prepare for the possibility of visitor restrictions due to the winter viral season.
Melissa explained, “We told the family that neonatal intensive care units (NICU) typically restrict sibling visits around that time because of RSV, so we weren’t sure when Dawson would be able to meet Meyer.”
There were also questions about Meyer’s long-term care: Would he need surgery every four to five years? If they reconstructed his heart, would it grow with him? These were the kinds of unknowns that the Dodd family faced as they navigated each step forward.
Guidance through the unknown
Melissa said, “We asked Dr. Doshi the same questions over and over, just because we needed to hear the answers again, and just having a team where we felt comfortable doing that made all the difference.”
As Melissa and Cooper processed all of the unknowns, they met Dr. Glen Van Arsdell, Meyer’s cardiothoracic surgeon, who committed to ensuring they felt as prepared as possible. He took the time to meet with them while Melissa was still pregnant, presenting various scenarios of how Meyer’s surgery could unfold.
The Dodd family appreciated how Dr. Van Arsdell explained medical jargon in an easier-to-understand way. His straightforward approach was exactly what she needed, and his clear communication helped them feel more prepared for the different possibilities. “No question was too silly,” Melissa said.
How Meyer redefined the meaning of ‘warrior’
As Meyer went through his procedures, the idea of strength began to change for Melissa. Initially, the term “heart warrior” felt too much for such a tiny baby. But as she watched him be born and face all the tests—the electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, open-heart surgery, and his NICU stay—the meaning of “warrior” shifted.
What once felt like a negative thought, thinking, “I don’t want my baby to have to endure this,” transformed into, “Wow, look what he’s become.” The word “warrior” began to represent everything Meyer had been through in his first six months of life. He had endured more than any adult she knew.
Melissa said, “I didn’t think of myself as a very resilient or strong person, at least not before. But then watching Meyer and being by his side, he has not only encompassed those words, but he’s also taught me how to be strong and resilient.”
Surpassing expectations: Meyer’s growth and true strength
When doctors first warned the Dodds that Meyer faced a 40% chance of disability due to his surgery and bypass, the remarkable feats Meyer would later surpass seemed unimaginable.
Meyer exceeded all expectations. His heart is repaired now and Dr. Doshi has no concerns about his progress.
The Dodds said, “CHOC saved Meyer’s life.” From the moment the family learned of the diagnosis to the day they left the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit with a baby whose heart had been repaired, CHOC was with them every step of the way.
Melissa emphasized that CHOC not only supported Meyer but also her family, providing the care, information, and resources they needed to make the best decisions for him.
Meyer’s first birthday and giving back to CHOC
Meyer recently celebrated his first birthday, and his parents are still discovering his personality. Mischievous and fun, he’s also fiercely independent.
Meyer went straight from crawling to running. Always sporting a tiny smirk, he loves making sure everyone knows he’s doing his own thing. He is a very active baby.
As their son’s first birthday approached, The Dodd family reflected on their journey. The Dodds’ growth over the past year deeply intertwined with the support they received from CHOC, and they felt grateful for the many blessings surrounding their family.
They recognized how the love, time, and prayers of so many people had upheld them.
To honor the support they received, the Dodds felt inspired to celebrate Meyer’s first birthday in a meaningful way. Instead of asking for toys, they encouraged their friends and family to contribute to a CHOC Foundation fundraiser for the CHOC Heart Institute in his honor. It was heartwarming for the Dodds to see their loved ones, who had supported them through the toughest times, now giving back to help others in similar situations.
Brotherly love: Dawson’s nightly affirmations and the future ahead for Meyer
While Meyer was in the hospital, Dawson, his older brother, called him every night to share nightly affirmations. The nurses and doctors often gathered around, touched by the bond between the two brothers.
Looking ahead, the Dodd family is excited to see Meyer and Dawson play together and reach new milestones.
The Dodds shared, “We are so excited to shift our focus from the medical side to who Meyer is as a person and watching him grow. We’re looking forward to seeing who he becomes. We already know he’s been through so much and can accomplish anything.”
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Learn more about CHOC’s Heart Institute
CHOC Hospital was named one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings and ranked in the cardiology and heart surgery specialties.
