• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Family

Toddler undergoes open-heart surgery to put a 'winter coat' inside her heart

1:45
Toddler undergoes open-heart surgery to put a 'winter coat' inside her heart
Northwestern Medicine
Faith Bernstein: Digital Video Producer for Good Morning America
ByFaith Bernstein
March 19, 2019, 7:58 AM

Illinois toddler Eloise Hoffman is all set for the cold weather after a "winter coat" was placed inside her heart during surgery when she was just a few days old.

"I like to tell people that she's got a little winter coat in there, keeping her heart warm," her father Matt Hoffman said of a piece of Gore-Tex, a material commonly used in jackets and coats, that was used on Eloise's heart.

Pediatric Cadiologist, Michael Perez listens to Eloise Hoffman's heart at the Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital.
Northwestern Medicine

It all started when doctors detected that Eloise had a heart murmur during a regular appointment three weeks after she was born. When they went back for a checkup, they knew it was serious.

"We were like, 'Do we schedule a follow-up?,' and [the doctor] said, 'No, you have to go to the hospital now. We may chopper you in or via ambulance.' So then it all sort of sunk in," Hoffman recalled.

Eloise was diagnosed with truncus arteriosus, a rare condition where she was born with only one blood vessel to pump blood out of her heart instead of the usual two. This often causes oxygenated and non-oxygenated blood to mix together, and can cause the lungs to fill with fluid.

Pediatric Cadiologist, Michael Perez shows the echocardiogram of Eloise's heart.
Northwestern Medicine

"Typically, if this is left untreated, usually this is fatal. Usually within the first year of life," pediatric cardiologist Michael Perez said of Eloise's condition.

Needless to say, her parents were worried.

"Three weeks after she was born, she was going to have this [open-heart] surgery ... so that was terrifying," Eloise's mother Krista Hoffman said.

But the surgery went off without a hitch at Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, and her parents couldn't be more proud of their resilient little daughter, who just happens to have a small piece of Gore-Tex in her heart now.

The Gore-Tex acts as a conduit to compensate for her singular pathway out of the heart.

Pediatric Cadiologist, Michael Perez listens to Eloise Hoffman's heart at the Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital.
Northwestern Medicine

"It's like a Columbia coat ... it's visually the same thing. It's all taken care of," Matt Hoffman joked.

She will probably have to have another surgery as she outgrows her current conduit but it's doing great now.

Parents Matt and Krista Hoffman are so grateful their toddler is making a smooth recovery.
Northwestern Medicine

"She's an amazing little munchkin. She's gone through a lot," her mom said. "I think her scar is awesome. I think she should wear it with pride. I think it's a amazing what she went through. She's like a little fireball."

Up Next in Family—

High school baseball team goes viral with emotional send-off for seniors

May 23, 2025

'Boy Meets World' star Ben Savage and Tessa Angermeier expecting 1st child

May 21, 2025

What to know about Kobe, Vanessa Bryant's 4 daughters

May 21, 2025

Jimmy Kimmel is a father of 4: What to know about his kids

May 21, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News