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‘Madi’s Broken Heart Benefit’ to help defray expenses for Hammond teen undergoing cardiac surgery

Madison “Madi” Welch was born 16 years ago with a heart murmur, a condition that affects 75 percent of all newborns, and is often called “innocent” because it doesn’t usually lead to any complications.

At the time doctors told her parents that the murmur shouldn’t cause any future problems, said Laura Welch of Hammond about her daughter’s prognosis.

Heart problems aren’t unusual in Madi’s family.

“There are heart problems on her father’s side,” said Paula Groen, Laura’s sister and Madi’s maternal aunt.

Her father, Michael Welch, suffered from kidney failure as well as a heart condition. Nine years ago, while on kidney dialysis, he had a heart attack and died.

Madi’s heart murmur only came back when she became ill, Laura Welch said. But Michael’s death left the family without insurance. Since then, Madi has been covered by Medicaid, her mother said.

A joint federal and state program that, together with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare provides health coverage to more than 72.5 million Americans, including children, pregnant women, parents, seniors and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is the single largest source of health coverage in the United States, according to https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/index.html.

An honor roll student at Morton High School, Madi has been a member of the swim team and marching band and played softball, her mother said. However, a year ago everything changed.

“She had an episode at school where she could feel her heart beating and felt like she was going to pass out,” Laura Welch recalled. “We go to NorthShore Health Centers in Hammond. They referred her to cardiologist.”

Dr. Rupali Gandhi, a pediatric cardiologist at Christ Advocate Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois, diagnosed Madi with congenital heart disease. On Dec. 16, the teen will undergo cardiac surgery to repair her heart’s tricuspid valve.

“There’s too much blood flow on the right side of her heart. That side of her heart is two-times the size of a normal heart,” Laura Welch said. “She’s also been on high blood pressure medicine for six months. Her blood pressure is extremely high for a teenager.”

Prior to Madi having the heart surgery, her cardiologist said the teen needed to have good dental health.

“Anytime you have a heart condition, you have to go to the dentist because any infection in your teeth goes directly to the heart,” said Groen.

To fulfill that pre-surgery requirement Madi had to have three root canals and now must have crowns put on those root canals, her mother said. Those crowns cost $700 each and are not covered by Medicaid.

To help the family cover those and other costs, a fundraiser “Madi’s Broken Heart Benefit” takes place from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Optimist Club, 7015 Kennedy Ave. in Hammond’s Hessville section.

The $10 entry fee entitles guests to a pasta dinner and dessert, said Doreen Brown, a friend who is helping organize the benefit. There will also be a carry-out option.

Donations from businesses and individuals are helping with the menu as well as a 50/50 raffle and baskets that guests can bid on, Groen said.

The menu includes mostaccioli with marinara sauce, a salad, a dinner roll, dessert and a choice of water, lemonade or iced tea, she said. Dessert choices will include cupcakes, brownies or cookies.

“I’m making it all,” said Groen with a chuckle.

Lu Ann Franklin is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.