Bronson’s Story
At 22 weeks pregnant, Marissa sat with her care team as they explained all the possible outcomes for her unborn son.
“They told us what his life might look like,” she remembers. “I looked at his dad and said, ‘One day with Bronson is better than none. Let’s give him a chance.'”
Eight years later, Bronson is doing what he loves most: catching baseballs, cheering on the Padres and living a full, active life.
An Unexpected Diagnosis
Just weeks before that conversation, Marissa had walked into her 20-week anatomy scan expecting a routine appointment. She had experienced the scan before with her oldest daughter, Bentley, and was excited to find out she was having a baby boy.
Instead, the appointment took an unexpected turn.
After spending nearly 45 minutes focused only on her baby’s heart, the doctor explained there appeared to be an abnormality and referred Marissa to Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego for further evaluation.
Soon after, Bronson was diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, a rare congenital heart defect that left him with a single functioning ventricle.
“I thought I was losing my son,” Marissa says.
Choosing Hope
As the reality of Bronson’s diagnosis set in, their family faced decisions that felt impossible.
Their care team explained the many paths Bronson’s life could take. He might need a tracheostomy. He might never eat on his own. He might never walk.
Still, they chose hope.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Marissa says. “Nothing compares to watching your child being wheeled into an operating room.”
But through every surgery, every hospitalization and every milestone, Bronson kept proving just how resilient he was.
“He is strong, courageous and his life has so much purpose.”
A Care Team Beside Them Every Step of the Way
After Bronson was born, his care began at Rady Children’s, where he underwent heart surgery with pediatric cardiac surgeon Dr. John Nigro.
Today, Bronson receives ongoing care through Rady Children’s Single Ventricle Clinic with pediatric cardiologist Dr. Silva Sepulveda. The multidisciplinary clinic brings together specialists from across the Heart Institute, allowing families to see multiple providers in a single visit.
“It’s amazing because we have an entire team working together for Bronson,” Marissa says. “We’ve had constant support every step of the way.”
“Every single person—from the doctors and nurses to the respiratory therapists, surgical technologists and support staff—treated Bronson with so much compassion and kindness. It made all the difference.”
Living Life to the Fullest
Today, Bronson is exactly where he wants to be: on a baseball field.
The outgoing 8-year-old can make friends almost anywhere he goes. He loves making people laugh and rarely goes anywhere without wanting to throw a baseball or swing a bat.
“He lives and breathes baseball,” Marissa says. “No matter where we are, he’s always ready to play catch.”
While living with congenital heart disease comes with emotional challenges, it has also shaped his perspective.
“He’s proud of his scar, and he’s proud of everything he’s overcome.”
Giving Back to the Place That Gave So Much
Bronson’s journey didn’t just change his family’s life; it inspired Marissa’s career.
When Bronson was just 1 year old, she joined Rady Children’s as an environmental services team member, wanting to give back to the hospital that had cared for her son. She later became a patient transporter, then a nursing assistant before returning to school to become a surgical technologist.
Today, she works in the very surgical department where Bronson once received care.
“It truly feels full circle,” she says.
For Marissa, every role has been an opportunity to support other families walking a path she knows all too well.
Why Families Trust Rady Children’s Heart Institute
Families facing a congenital heart diagnosis deserve expert care, clear guidance and compassionate support from the very beginning.
At Rady Children’s Heart Institute, multidisciplinary teams care for children with even the most complex congenital heart conditions—from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood. For Bronson and his family, that partnership gave them confidence during life’s hardest moments and helped make today’s milestones possible.