Sometimes a mother just knows. April Kratochvil had been carrying this heavy feeling about her daughter Kylie for over a decade. The heart murmur discovered at age three had become routine checkups with routine reassurances. But that gnawing feeling in April’s chest wouldn’t quiet down, no matter how many times doctors said everything looked fine.

Before her sophomore year at Mater Dei High School, April requested another cardiologist referral. The family needed peace of mind for golf eligibility. The same tests were rerun. Then came September 5, 2024. Kylie Kratochvil needed open-heart surgery immediately. The diagnosis was subaortic valve stenosis. A membrane had grown inside her heart, restricting blood flow. Part of her heart was hardening. Without treatment, the condition would b

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