In the United States, about 500,000 babies are born prematurely each year, with about 2 percent of them born at less than 32 weeks gestation. Up to 90 percent of these children survive, but they often suffer a number of abnormalities, some of which can contribute to white matter injury. No treatment currently exists to improve function in these infants after injury occurs, but researchers at Children's National may be close.

Teresa was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, which meant her enlarged heart lost its ability to pump blood effectively and is the leading cause for heart transplantation. She was treated a few times at the Emergency Department before doctors determined that her heart was beginning to fail. She was put on a Berlin Heart EXCOR® Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) in March while she waited for almost a year for a heart.