February marks National Heart Awareness Month. It helps to remind families, like the Frankfathers of Denver City, what they have gone through the last few years. Their two-year-old daughter, Jayden Frankfather, has spent most of her young life in and out of the hospital.
"Jayden has undergone four open heart surgeries. She will need more surgery in the future as she grows," said Mother JoLynn Frankfather. "She has an artificial calve in a conduit. She'll outgrow that at some point in her life so she'll have to have another surgery."
After finding Jayden's heart defect, doctors examined her 4-year-old sister Jordan.
"Thanks to little sister we had big sister checked and found her defect," JoLynn said.
Jordan then joined her younger sister Jayden on the journey of repair and recovery.
"There was a hole in my heart," said Jordan.
Parents JoLynn and Scott Frankfather said having both of their daughters fight for their lives has been a challenging venture.
"I'm a Physician and I see babies and deliver babies. It's difficult to face that this happened to my children. How did I not know?" said Scott.
Even through the hardship the Frankfathers are counting their blessings.
"Everyone has been really supportive. The nurses and the staff, we consider everyone family. We are so blessed to have this in our community and we didn't have to travel out of town to get the surgeries done. We're very lucky," JoLynn said.
Before Covenant started their Pediatric Heart Program 12 years ago, families like the Frankfathers would have to travel all the way to Dallas or Houston for treatment.
"So the families can be close by and receive similar services that you would have in Dallas and Houston," said Dr. James Harrell, MD and Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Covenant Children’s Hospital.
"I've operated on both daughters of the Frankfathers. I'm pleased to say that they're doing very well now," Dr. Harrell said.
The Frankfathers said they're overjoyed to see their two little girls running around and enjoying life, like every child deserves.
"We were very fortunate that they found the defects early and they'll be able to live normal lives, but other kids are not as lucky," Scott said.
That's why these parents are now helping others who are going through similar struggles.
"We've got a local support group that's called Mended Little Hearts. It's a group of other heart families that like to get together and share their information and support," JoLynn said.
Thanks to the services of Lubbock's Covenant Children's Hospital, Jordan and Jayden Frankfather have hearts beating strong.
