A Texas news anchor broke down in tears live as she revealed disturbing news about her first pregnancy, just weeks before the arrival of her daughter.
Shannon Murray, a host on FOX 4 Good Day, announced her daughter Stella’s heart condition in a segment Friday morning.
Murray told viewers that her daughter, who is due to give birth in March, has been diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, a rare heart condition.
Those with the condition have a hole between the left and right sides of their heart and do not have a pulmonary valve. The birth defect affects normal blood flow through the heart.
“In the short term, we are focused on fighting for our daughter and being her advocates, while also trying to stay happy and excited about the pregnancy and becoming parents,” Murray said through tears.
“And we can’t wait to meet her,” she said as she put on a gold chain with her daughter’s name on it.
Shannon Murray, a host on FOX 4 Good Day, revealed her daughter Stella’s rare heart condition, Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, on Friday morning
She broke the news that the doctor told her and her husband Chris that Stella has a hole between the left and right sides of their hearts and does not have a pulmonary valve.
Murray candidly broke the news to viewers as she informed them of her past marriage and pregnancy, saying she and her husband “wanted to be transparent.”
Murray further said that once her daughter is born, she will immediately undergo emergency surgery to save her life.
She said she and her husband Chris have been “processing the news over the past few months,” while also exploring the condition for themselves as new parents.
“There are still some unknowns, but I’m grateful we’ve had the time to wrap our heads around this and do as much research as possible,” she said in an Instagram post about the sad news.
Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia occurs when a baby’s heart does not form correctly in the mother’s womb.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Preventionthe heart defect can cause a reduction in the oxygen in the blood that flows to the rest of the body.
Due to the lack of oxygen, babies born with the rare condition may experience cyanosis, a bluish skin color. The change in skin color may occur as the baby grows, especially while he is eating and crying.
Murray said she and her husband Chris “can’t wait to meet their daughter” and know she may need to undergo multiple open-heart procedures in her lifetime.
The new mom wipes away tears during the announcement as she said she and her husband “wanted to be transparent” with the show’s viewers
The CDC reported that an estimated 1,660 people are born with this heart condition each year in the US.
The cause of the disease remains unknown and is thought to be influenced by genetics and chromosomes.
‘Heart defects such as tetralogy of Fallot are also thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other risk factors, such as what the mother or fetus comes into contact with in the environment or what the mother eats or drinks or the medications she takes. used,” the CDC said.
Although every baby born with the disease experiences it differently, Murray said she and her husband know Stella may need multiple open-heart surgeries during her lifetime.
She went on to say that the doctor told the expectant parents that Olympic snowboarder Shaun White has the same heart defect.
“The doctors immediately informed us about his case because I know it gives us so much reassurance as parents when you think about someone who is doing such an extreme sport and has a life-threatening condition,” the expectant mother said.
Murray added that her husband was also a snowboarder, something she said her daughter could do in the future.
As she shared her emotional news, her co-hosts Chip Wagoner and Lauren Przybyl sat next to her and comforted her.
‘Thank you for being real. Thank you for being raw. Thank you for sharing this,” Przybyl said as tears streamed down her face.
Wagoner then talked about his son Benjamin’s health problems as a baby and gave Murray advice.
The CDC reported that an estimated 1,660 people are born with this heart condition each year in the US. Murray is seen hugging her baby bump under a sign with her future daughter’s name on it
As she shared her emotional news, her co-hosts Chip Wagoner and Lauren Przybyl sat next to her and comforted her
“They’re different than what you’re going to experience, but the best advice one of the doctors gave us was to remember the following,” Wagoner said.
‘Whatever the condition, this will be normal for them and they will not need to be treated differently. Let them figure out what they can and cannot do. Don’t put them in a box.’
‘The good news is that this heart condition is treatable. The doctors assure us that Stella can lead a normal life,” Murray said on the show.
“You are already the epitome of a parent’s love and strength. Shannon, sharing your story will make many families feel SEEN,” someone commented on Instagram.
“Sending love your way, as a fellow heart warrior mom,” said another.
I got through the 5am segment just fine…but at 7am we all broke down. I just want to thank you all so much for the support,” Murray said in a Facebook post.
She also shared a photo of her and other presenters dressed in red for American Heart Association Day on Thursday, and moments from a baby show her colleagues hosted for her.
