In this recent photo of the Ritzke family, from left to right are Doug Ritzke, Haylee Ritzke, Karla Ritzke and older sister, Rachael Ritzke, shown together four months after Haylee Ritzke’s heart transplant.

Haylee Ritzke, a senior at Bishop Ryan Catholic School in Minot, had a heart transplant four months ago at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Rachael Ritzke, Haylee’s sister, has been a comfort during Haylee’s experience, as Rachael has a heart defibrillator/pacemaker.

From childhood, both girls have suffered a range of heart disorders, including cardiomyopathy and hypomagnesium. The girls have learned, almost to their demise, that both of their very different cases, are caused from “the heart failure gene that comes from the gene signatures of both Doug and I,” said the girls’ mother, Karla Ritzke.

Cardiomyopathy makes it hard for the heart to pump and deliver blood to the body, and a way to measure the amount is looking at the ejection fraction (EF) rate or fluid being ejected from a heart chamber with each contraction or heartbeat.

Generally, the normal functioning rate is 70%. Both Rachael and Haylee’s EF rates have been lower than 15%. Rachael has an extra circuit in her heart, which makes her body have to adapt to her heart’s pumping rate and having the defibrillator/pacemaker prevents heart failure. In Haylee’s case her rate lowered quickly to 8% without warning or symptoms.

Had Haylee not been at Mayo when she was for a general checkup, she would not be here, said Karla. Haylee was playing basketball and lifting weights prior to Jan. 21 when she got the Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD).

“The LVAD was Haylee’s first open heart surgery,” said Karla.

The LVAD is a cord extending out of an incision hole on the side of her body that is hooked up to a battery pack or plugged into the wall.

Karla said Haylee carried the battery pack, cords and a spare pack of extra batteries at mostly all times to prevent any power shortage to the LVAD. If the pump lost power, there was a 2-minute time lapse before it would stop, and end her life.

During the April snowstorm this past winter, Doug Ritzke, Karla’s husband and the girls’ dad, had a generator, a surplus of gasoline and contact with Xcel Energy. Karla said one day she tripped on the cord, unplugging Haylee’s LVAD in the hallway of their Minot home and immediately plugged it back in. She could not explain the feelings and realization of what it would have meant had she not known the cord was unplugged.

In May, the Ritzkes were told to move to Rochester. Haylee was being moved up the list for heart transplant surgery because she was a pediatric LVAD patient. Karla said Haylee would need to be at Mayo and prepped for transplant surgery in less than three hours. Memorial Day weekend 2022, the Ritzkes headed for Mayo.

Not knowing their return date, the Ritzkes packed up their car for every season. They checked into an extended stay hotel in Rochester, which waived the daily parking fees and taxes, and supplied free breakfast and one dinner a week, said Karla. They arrived at Haylee’s first appointment. Karla said from that appointment on she was moved to the top of the Mayo region list for a heart.

Thirty-six hours after being in Rochester, Doug got the call that Haylee was to be at Mayo and checked in by midnight to be prepped for a new heart, said Karla.

Little information is supplied about the donor but Haylee’s family knew it was a 22-year-old male and the heart traveled on ice under two hours by the time, it was placed into Haylee.

Karla said Haylee fell into the best of three categories after a transplant, which meant the heart was immediately accepting Haylee and beating at 70%.

“As quickly as the last stitch was sewn,” added Rachael.

Haylee gave her new heart the name “Brutus” after what her dad said about her new heart.

He had commented that the healthy new heart was “a Brute,” said Karla.

More than 50% of donor families do not want communication with the transplant recipient, but Karla said after six months, Haylee would like to try to reach out. Haylee said she struggles with survivor’s guilt. From the time Haylee decided to become an organ donor on her driver’s license, she always pictured herself being a donor not a recipient.

Haylee said before the heart transplant she didn’t know how bad she felt and while she has had trouble with her shoulders popping out of socket, she feels a lot better. She had her chest open twice in three months, and in doing so they took her shoulders out of socket so she could lay flat for the almost 12-hour surgery, Karla said.

Haylee takes 20 different medications that cost the Ritzke family up to $20,000 a month, and this will be for the rest of her life. The variety or dosage may change but she will always remain on anti-rejection medications and prescriptions such as prednisone for various infection prevention. Haylee will have diet restrictions, including very limited restaurant visits, and constant precautions against bacteria and viruses.

Haylee has been a walking miracle and inspiration to the Ritzke family. Karla said that God has been so good to them and the community support has been amazing.

Various fundraisers have been put on by Bishop Ryan and students. The kids even gathered for a midnight prayer vigil the night of Haylee’s surgery.

The Ritzkes have managed to stay above water financially, but it has been difficult, especially because of medication and the biweekly travel to Mayo, said Karla.

A medical fund has been set up for Haylee at First International Bank and Trust and a Venmo account: @HayLeeRitzke for e-donations.

Haylee was not excited to take her senior photos because of medications causing swelling in her face but she decided to go for it. With her new and permanent chest pendant, Haylee said she didn’t even need any jewelry for the photos.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

When 2023 Medicare enrollment begins Saturday, beneficiaries in the Minot area could see new options for their ...

WILLISTON — A Williston man has been charged with Class C felony release of destructive forces in district court ...

BELCOURT -- Ernest Counts, 57, Minot, was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Wednesday evening in Rolette County and ...

WILLISTON – The victim of a one-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 2 in Williston on Wednesday has been identified. ...

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Copyright © Minot Daily News | https://www.minotdailynews.com | 301 4th St SE, Minot, ND 58701 | 701-857-1900