Michigan Mom Born with Rare Congenital Heart Defect ‘Soaks Up Every Moment’ After Multiple Open-Heart Surgeries

Health and Wellness,Physical Health,Health Conditions,American Heart Month

Michigan Mom Born with Rare Congenital Heart Defect ‘Soaks Up Every Moment’ After Multiple Open-Heart Surgeries

02.27.2025 | 5 min read

When Hannah Cislo was 12 years old, her doctor told her she would need a heart valve replacement one day.

The doctor said maybe that day would come when she was 16. But when Cislo turned 16, her rare bicuspid aortic stenosis condition wasn’t causing any problems. She moved on with her life. It wasn’t until she started aspiring to become a mother that the issue truly resurfaced.

“Bicuspid aortic stenosis is the narrowing of the aortic valve, and it affects the blood flow throughout your heart,” Cislo explained. “It’s a congenital heart defect. It’s something I always knew would need to be monitored.”

Only about 1% to 2% of the general population has a bicuspid aortic valve, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It’s an extra unlikely condition for Cislo, as men are twice as likely to be born with bicuspid aortic stenosis as women. Aortic valve replacement, which can happen through traditional open-heart surgery, is usually required. Replacement valves are either bioprosthetic or mechanical.

When she began dating her now husband and talked about raising a family, Cislo’s bicuspid aortic stenosis became a talking point. It’s a heart condition that can cause complications during pregnancy.

“Based off my numbers and my symptoms, my doctor gave us the go-ahead to try and get pregnant,” she said. “That happened when I was 24, and, I had a checkup at the four-week mark, and they found out that my valve was severely stenosed.”

Hannah Cislo poses for a photo with her daughter, Vaida, and husband, Parker.

Doctors told Cislo a successful pregnancy was possible, but it was risky for both her and the baby. Terminating the pregnancy was discussed.

“That was a really scary time for us,” said Cislo, who ultimately went through with a successful pregnancy. Her daughter, Vaida, was delivered in April 2020. Cislo and her husband were overjoyed to see their baby girl born healthy, but Cislo didn’t get to feel that warmth and joy for long as her condition crept back up in a major way a few weeks into her daughter’s life.

Setbacks and adversity: Cislo endures two open heart surgeries in two years

“I came home, and I feel like I quickly went into postpartum (depression), but there was an extra layer to it for me,” Cislo said. “It really didn’t feel like I could take care of her. I could breastfeed and love her as much as I could at that time, but it was really hard for me to love her and focus on my health at the same time.”

Every task around the house – related to motherhood or not – became tedious.

“I felt really lightheaded, and I was short of breath all the time,” Cislo recalled. “I felt like I could go lights out at any time.”

A dozen years after a doctor first told Cislo she’d need her valve replaced she had open heart surgery in May of 2020.

“I chose to get a bioprosthetic valve, mostly because I’m a woman and it would give me an opportunity to potentially have another child if I wanted to,” Cislo said.

While doing her research and talking with doctors, Cislo was under the impression the bioprosthetic valve – which consists of pig or cow tissue and is considered safe and durable – would last at least 10 years. It’s common to need another replacement surgery at some point between 10 and 20 years, but Cislo didn’t come close to a decade before her valve started acting up.

Hannah Cislo poses for a photo while staying in the hospital for her first surgery.

“Doctors said it was a freak incident, and the bioprosthetic valve deteriorated in less than two years,” Cislo said. “I was going to need open heart surgery again.”

Cislo opted to undergo a Ross Procedure in July of 2022. The Ross Procedure involves moving a person’s pulmonary valve into the damaged aortic valve position and replacing the pulmonary valve with a donor valve. It’s considered effective for 15 to 20 years, per the American Heart Association (AHA).

Grateful for every moment

After the Ross Procedure, Cislo’s healing journey truly began.

“Once I got to the one-year mark I felt about 90% recovered,” Cislo said. “Simple tasks like going up the stairs, going for walks got easier and easier. It’s night and day now.”

Even as she recovered physically, Cislo struggled with the mental side of her condition. She experienced severe anxiety and trauma caused by the failed result of her first open heart surgery. Both before and after the Ross Procedure she was always wondering if and when her heart issues would resurface like they had in the past couple of years.

Therapy and support from the AHA helped Cislo heal.

“I got into health trauma therapy, anxiety therapy, and that was really beneficial for me,” she explained. “I think as a heart patient it’s really important to go through that, even if you feel uncomfortable at first. It helps you dig in and pull out all these emotions. It’s really beneficial having people there to walk you through that. Even things like breathing exercises were huge for me and I wouldn’t have known to do that without therapy.”

AHA support groups online allowed Cislo to connect with other people who endured similar situations.

“I met a woman through the support group who had the same Ross Procedure done almost 30 years ago and she still has the same aortic valve,” she said. “Stuff like that really encouraged me. Things like that are important for heart patients. Getting connected helps the healing process.”

Happier and healthier than she’s been in half a decade, Cislo said she’s taking advantage of every moment with her family. Heart month in February means more to her than ever.

“I turned 30 this last weekend, so having that milestone in heart month was so cool,” she said. “Every year is such a blessing to me. Health truly is wealth. Being able to watch my daughter grow up is the most amazing thing in the world. I had my first surgery when she was an infant and now, she’s about to turn 5. I just try to soak up every moment. And being able to share my story, if it can resonate with one person, it makes it all worth it.”

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Photo credit: Hannah Cislo