After 165 long days in the hospital, baby Rose Opal Ann Byers finally left Riley Hospital for Children, dressed as a tiny Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, complete with gingham dress, bows in her hair, and miniature ruby red slippers. She didn’t face a tornado, but she did endure something far more challenging — a journey of courage, resilience, and medical miracles that began the day she was born with a rare heart defect.
“There’s no place like home,” her parents, Spencer and Madison, whispered as they carried their daughter from the CVICU to the car that would take her back to Greencastle, Indiana. After five months of constant care, procedures, and uncertainty, they were finally able to take her home — a home filled with love, hope, and the promise of family.
Rose was born in June with truncus arteriosus, a rare and serious congenital heart defect where a single blood vessel leaves the heart instead of the usual two. The diagnosis came before she took her first breath, leaving her parents grappling with a future filled with unknowns and unimaginable decisions. At just 11 days old, Rose underwent open-heart surgery performed by Dr. Mark Turrentine, a procedure that required immense trust and courage from her parents. “It felt like we were in fight or flight mode those first two weeks,” Spencer recalled. Every day became a balancing act between hope and fear, waiting for updates, and praying for her tiny heart to hold strong.
Rose’s time in the hospital was long and arduous. She spent 165 days in the CVICU, a period that tested her resilience and the endurance of her parents. Madison and Spencer took turns staying with her around the clock, witnessing every small triumph and every setback. They learned to navigate ventilators, feeding tubes, and the intricate medical care that Rose required, all while trying to maintain some sense of normalcy and hope. “The nurses were lifesavers,” Madison said. “They’ve been amazing — she’s leaving here with a lot of aunts.”
The team at Riley did more than provide medical care. They nurtured Rose and her family, offering emotional support, encouragement, and guidance through the complexities of a prolonged hospital stay. Nurse Andi Vordermann expressed pride in Rose’s bravery, noting how remarkable it is for a baby to endure such an extended hospitalization with a sweet temperament and unwavering spirit. “I’m just really proud of her,” she said. “And both her parents did really great.”
For her discharge day, the CVICU team added a touch of magic. With the release of Wicked: For Good over the weekend, the nurses embraced a Dorothy theme, decorating Rose’s hospital wagon to resemble the yellow brick road. A stuffed Toto accompanied her on the ride home, reminding her parents and caregivers alike of the joy and hope that can coexist even amidst medical challenges.
Though Rose will leave the hospital with a ventilator to assist her breathing and a G-tube for feeding, her parents are confident in the skills and training they received. “We go through so much training in the hospital. The care has been great,” Madison said. Spencer added, “Nothing but good things to say.” Their daughter may still require follow-up care and possible additional surgeries, but the immediate joy of seeing her leave the CVICU — blinking her big brown eyes and rosy cheeks — was overwhelming.
At home, Rose will be surrounded by her two older brothers and the family’s love, with a carefully planned Thanksgiving to celebrate her arrival and her remarkable progress. She will return to Riley every four weeks for follow-up care with cardiologist Dr. Sabena Hussain and the heart team, but for now, she is where she belongs.
Rose’s story is one of courage, determination, and the unbreakable bond of family. Her tiny feet following a yellow brick road may be symbolic, but they represent a reality far more profound: a little girl who endured months of uncertainty and hardship, who survived life-threatening surgery, and who now returns home — a living miracle.
For Spencer and Madison, for the nurses and doctors who cared for her, and for all who followed her journey, Rose is proof that even in the face of daunting challenges, hope, love, and resilience can guide the way home. And as she clicks her heels three times in her tiny ruby slippers, there truly is no place like home.
Her journey is far from over, but for now, the miracle of Rose Opal Ann Byers — their little Dorothy — continues, walking the yellow brick road of life with courage and a heart full of hope.