Sophia was an active 14-year-old dancer when she began experiencing chest pain during exercise.

Sophia was an active 14-year-old dancer when she began experiencing chest pain during exercise. What initially seemed like something that could be related to asthma became more frequent and was accompanied by dizziness. Eventually, her pain began happening even at rest. At the end of her 8th grade year, she her had her physical Highschool where she explained to her pediatrician the symptoms she was experiencing. It was during this visit she was first referred to a local cardiologist for further evaluation of her symptoms.

Sophia continued having these symptoms throughout the summer . When she was evaluated at the cardiologist in July, it was on that day we had ever heard she had a congenital heart condition, a Single Right Coronary Artery.
From the we did seek a second opinion at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware and we never could have been prepared for the journey it took us.

In August 2025, we received the diagnosis that changed everything: an anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA). Sophia had a single right coronary artery, with her left coronary artery arising from the right and traveling between the major arteries of her heart. Further imaging showed an 18-mm interarterial segment with an area of narrowing and concern for an intramural course. It was explained to us that this was concerning and would need another opinion from Texas Children’s Hospital.

She was immediately restricted from sports while her cardiac team completed further testing. Even during her exercise stress test, Sophia experienced chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness.

On November 18, 2025, Sophia underwent open-heart surgery at Nemours Children’s Hospital. Her surgical repair involved coronary artery reimplantation, correcting the abnormal coronary course and reconnecting the coronary artery to the aorta.

Her recovery has been remarkable. Postoperative testing showed no evidence of ischemia or cardiac dysfunction, normal exercise capacity, and no chest pain or dizziness during her follow-up exercise test.

Today, Sophia is back doing the things she loves.

For World Heart Day, we share her story because heart disease does not always look the way we expect it to—especially in children and teenagers. Sophia looked healthy. She was active. She danced. But she knew something did not feel right.

Her story is why we will always believe in listening to symptoms, asking questions, advocating, and continuing to search for answers.

This is Sophia’s heart story—and we are forever grateful that her heart was given the chance to keep dancing.