Julia's Story: Thriving with Connected Healthcare Technology

“I take the Stel device everywhere – to school, out to dinner, and on trips out of town. Whenever I sense my levels are out of the normal range, I can simply test myself and send the results to my care team immediately, no matter where I am. It gives me tremendous peace of mind.”

– Julia

Julia, a former Valley Children’s cardiac patient and also an intern at Valley Children’s through the Fresno State internship program, started using the Stel device last year.

Julia uses the Stel device to monitor her blood coagulation levels.

Julia had three open-heart surgeries at Valley Children’s beginning in 2011. During the third surgery, her mitral valve was replaced with a mechanical valve. “Mechanical valves last longer than prosthetic tissue valves but run the risk of causing blood clots that can lead to stroke,” Julia said, adding that she takes Warfarin, a blood thinner, to help mitigate that risk.

Prior to using the Stel device, Julia would have to visit Valley Children’s outpatient lab frequently so they could closely monitor her blood coagulation levels and adjust her Warfarin dosage according to her test results. This process was time-consuming and inconvenient, and delayed the delivery of personalized, effective care. Now that she has the Stel device, frequent trips to the lab are a thing of the past, giving Julia a lot more freedom.

“I take the Stel device everywhere – to school, out to dinner, and on trips out of town,” she said. “Whenever I sense my levels are out of the normal range, I can simply test myself and send the results to my care team immediately, no matter where I am. It gives me tremendous peace of mind.”

Expert Care with a Lot of Heart

With the most innovative techniques and readily available equipment, our pediatric heart experts have conducted many “firsts,” including the very first open-heart surgery in the region and opening the area’s first catheterization lab. Our specialists provide the most advanced care for children who have congenital or acquired heart conditions by repairing the tiniest hearts with just 1/8-inch of a skin puncture. Learn more about how the team at the Willson Heart Center helps kids reach for their dreams and follow their heart >>