Calum’s Story: Cardiology Care Closer to Home
Born with a congenital heart defect, Calum’s journey included two major surgeries at Children’s Nebraska. Now, his same heart care team continues to support him at home in Rapid City, S.D.
Oct. 13, 2025
Getting Expert Care for a Congenital Heart Defect
When Halie and Matt Anderson welcomed their youngest son, Calum, into the world, they already knew life would look a little different. Prenatal testing revealed congenital heart disease (CHD). Calum had an atrioventricular (AV) canal defect, a large hole between the upper and lower chambers of his heart.
CHD is a problem with how a baby’s heart forms before birth. Some defects are minor and only need occasional checkups. Others require surgery and monitoring from a specialized heart team.
In those first moments after delivery, Halie and Matt could tell something wasn’t right. Calum’s hands and feet began to turn purple, his body became puffy and his oxygen levels started to drop. Doctors later confirmed a coarctation of the aorta (a narrowing of the body’s main blood vessel), which was making Calum’s heart work even harder. He needed immediate, specialized care.
A Life-Saving Surgical Plan
Calum was born in Rapid City, S.D., but he needed more support than his local hospital could provide. His doctors arranged a flight to Children’s Nebraska. There, the team at the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Heart Center quickly took over with a two-phase plan.
The first phase was a life-saving surgery to expand Calum’s aorta. Over the next six months, his care team closely monitored his recovery and prepared for a second surgery to close the hole in his heart. Both procedures were successful.
It was a difficult time, but Halie and Matt knew they weren’t facing it alone. They were grateful for the expert care and compassion they found at Children’s Nebraska.
“There was a culture of authentic empathy and kindness all the way through,” Matt says. “From the cafeteria staff to the Cardiac Care Unit, we felt it everywhere.”
Support at Home
One of the big challenges for the Andersons wasn’t surgery — it was distance. Rapid City is more than eight hours away from Omaha. Frequent travel for follow-up appointments could put a heavy strain on their family.
Recognizing this, the experts at Children’s Nebraska coordinated Calum’s follow-up care through their outreach program, led by division chief of Pediatric Cardiology Jeffrey Delaney, MD. The program brings expert pediatric cardiology care to families with outreach locations in more than a dozen communities across the region — helping children like Calum receive ongoing care closer to home.
“Calum had surgical repair here in Omaha, but his heart wasn’t completely fixed,” says Ram Kumar Subramanyan, MD, PhD, division chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery. “We knew we’d need to continue following him closely. So we have Children’s cardiologists flying to Rapid City to bring care closer to home for Calum and his family.”
For Halie and Matt, this commitment meant everything.
“There are a lot of places we could have gone for Calum’s care,” Matt says. “But they’re not coming out to do that. They’re not thinking about the strain it puts on a family to travel for medical care. It really shows the dedication from the Children’s team.”
Children’s Nebraska makes sure families in rural areas don’t have to choose between continuity of care and the comfort of home. Through the network of outreach clinics across the Midwest, including the Black Hills of South Dakota, children can continue to see the same trusted heart team without long trips.
Comprehensive, Family-Centered Care
Calum’s care touched nearly every part of the Criss Heart Center – from fetal diagnosis and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to surgical repair and follow-up care through the Pulmonary Hypertension Program. He now sees Children’s experts regularly at the outreach clinic to check how his heart and lungs are working and adjust treatment as needed.
Specialists in the Criss Heart Center coordinate appointments, perform echocardiograms and provide ongoing monitoring at outreach clinics. This model of pediatric cardiac care is designed not just to treat each patient’s condition, but also to support their families.
Calum Continues to Thrive
Today, more than a year after surgery, Calum is thriving. He’s the same calm, curious and joyful boy who continues to inspire everyone around him.
“He’s made us all better people,” Halie says. “We’re excited to watch him keep teaching our family as he grows. And we’re just so grateful for everything Children’s has done for us.”
Calum’s story represents what’s possible when hospitals reach beyond their walls.
“Calum is a reminder of why we do what we do,” says Dr. Subramanyan. “We know how to care for complex heart disease, and we’re spreading our reach far beyond Omaha.”
Care for Children with Heart Conditions
Children with congenital heart defects need lifelong care that grows with them. The Criss Heart Center delivers comprehensive and compassionate care for children like Calum — and helps their families find support closer to home.
Find a pediatric heart specialist for your child.
