The best things come in small packages

For the Krauth family of Hanover, Minn., the joy of expecting a new baby quickly turned into a whirlwind of uncertainty.

What began as Kirsten’s routine prenatal checkup ended with an emergency C-section and the premature birth of her and husband Max’s daughter, Rian, 13 weeks early.

Weighing just over two pounds, Rian entered the world with fingers so small they could barely wrap around Max’s finger. Her first 91 days were spent in the NICU, where every breath and heartbeat was a milestone. But her fight was far from over.

Doctors soon discovered a heart murmur, later diagnosed as an atrial septal defect, or a hole between the upper chambers of her heart. This condition caused blood to flow in the wrong direction, placing extra strain on her tiny heart.

For two years, Max, Kirsten and older brother Miles watched as her heart worked harder than it should, until it was clear that the hole would not close on its own, and Rian grew large enough to allow for intervention.

Rather than traditional open-heart surgery, the Krauths and their medical team chose a minimally invasive procedure. Through a small incision in Rian’s leg, doctors inserted Abbott’s Amplatzer Septal Occluder to close the hole in her heart.

The next morning, Rian was already up and moving, her spark undimmed.

That spark has only grown brighter. Now 9 years old, Rian is a lively child with a love for American Girl dolls and singing – and a healthy dose of childhood pickiness at the dinner table.

Rian’s resilience is a daily reminder of the strength children can possess. Her heart may have needed help, but her spirit never did.

Her spirit is on full display in “The More the Merrier,” a new Hallmark Channel original movie featuring four of Rian’s fellow HeartMates and community ambassador Damar Hamlin.

Rian, what was your favorite part of shooting the movie? 

I liked meeting the other HeartMates and jumping up and down with heart hands for the camera. It was a cool experience!

Even though you were just a baby when you started your heart health comeback, what would you say to encourage other kids who are maybe just starting their comeback journeys?

Be brave and believe in yourself. Your heart believes in you.

Kirsten and Max, what would a community like Abbott HeartMates have meant to your family while you were in the most serious part of Rian’s heart health journey?

A community like Abbott HeartMates would have meant so much to our family. Having other parents and people who truly understand the fear and the hope, and who could offer encouragement when things felt impossible, would’ve given us much comfort and strength. Just knowing we weren’t alone would have made such a difference.

What have been your sources of strength and support through all of this?

Through all of this, our greatest source of strength and support have come from each other and the people who surrounded us with love. Family, friends and even people we barely knew showed up in ways we’ll never forget. Our care team gave us not just medical expertise, but hope. We continue to find strength in knowing that our daughter’s tender little heart holds the Abbott Amplatzer Occluder, giving her the freedom to live life fully and joyfully. It reminds us just how far she’s come and of the incredible love, care and innovation that made her journey possible.

You two came out the other side of one of the most frightening and stressful experiences parents can have. What message, lessons or words of encouragement would you offer to parents who are in a similar situation with their own kids?  

Our journey alongside Rian continues to teach us the power of resilience, the beauty of living with gratitude and love, and the life-changing strength of a supportive community. It’s okay to be scared, and it’s okay to not have all the answers. We found that the best thing is to stay present, ask questions and keep showing up for your child and for each other. You’ll get through it – even when it feels impossible – and your love really does make all the difference.

Be gentle with yourself. You’ll find strength you didn’t know you had, and your baby will amaze you. One day you’ll look back and realize you made it through something incredible together.

The Abbott HeartMates program is a community established by Abbott to offer support to people impacted by cardiovascular conditions, along with their families and caregivers. The program enables participants to share stories and receive emotional support as well as connect with others going through similar heart health journeys. Visit the Abbott HeartMates hub for more information.