StarBulletin.com

Boy 'good as new' after surgery


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POSTED: Saturday, April 25, 2009

The first time cardiac surgeons Carlos Moreno-Cabral and John Lamberti saw Reyn Oumaye, he was 10 months old and diagnosed with a complex congenital heart defect.

They repaired his heart in six hours of surgery during Heart Week at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.

Their patient now is a healthy sixth-grader at Moanalua Middle School and is an avid baseball player.

He showed the surgeons his scar during a visit to Kapiolani earlier this month during Heart Week and they asked the left-hander what position he plays.

When he said pitcher, first base and outfield, Lamberti said, “;That's pretty good. Usually the pitcher is the best player.”;

“;We've been very fortunate,”; said Reyn's mother, Janice. “;He's pretty much as good as new.”;

Reyn's pediatrician detected a heart murmur when he was 4 months old and immediately referred the family to cardiologist Dr. Venu Reddy at Kapiolani Medical Center.

Reddy diagnosed a rare combination of heart defects known as tetralogy of fallot. The baby required surgery when he turned blue at 10 months. The procedure was done in September 1997 during Heart Week. “;It happened so fast,”; said Janice Oumaye, who teaches reading at Moanalua Middle School. “;They said it was the most complicated surgery they did that week.”;

She said she and her husband, Wendell, are “;totally appreciative of the whole thing.”;

She said Reyn, who has two older siblings, “;is a great kid, always happy.”; His coach calls him “;smiley,”; she said.