Levi’s Heartfelt Fight: How Expert Cardiac Care at Manning Family Children’s Helped Save Him

Levi Tommy Bihm and his sister, Suni Dallas, were born at 34 weeks on Oct. 16, 2024. Despite their preemie status and only nine-day hospital stay, they were happy and healthy fraternal twins. Miranda Ducote, 33, and Brandan Bihm, 29, of Marksville, La., say they felt truly blessed. Their family, which also includes the twins’ two older siblings, Tucker and Evie, was complete. 

Two weeks before Christmas, Evie tested positive for RSV, a common respiratory virus that can be especially dangerous for infants. She stayed away from the babies as best she could, but Levi tested positive, as well, 10 days later. The family spent the holidays giving the baby breathing treatments until he seemed to be doing better. Two weeks later, on Jan. 15, 2025, Levi tested positive once again for the respiratory illness. And, this time, he also tested positive for pneumonia and began treatment for both pneumonia and RSV.  

Finally, Miranda said Levi was doing much better and had started daycare. She thought his health troubles were in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately, the roller coaster ride for this family was just beginning. On Jan. 28, mom received a call from the daycare, informing her that Levi’s lips were turning blue because he was coughing so badly. 

She immediately called the pediatrician, who ordered a chest X-ray right away. The results confirmed that he had pneumonia again. That’s when Levi was admitted to a local hospital. However, after a week of treatment, his mother said he still hadn’t shown signs of recovery. 

That’s when Levi underwent an echocardiogram (ECHO), which revealed a much more serious cardiac issue—he was born with a hole in his heart. An ECHO uses ultrasound waves to create detailed images of the heart's structure and function. 

“They told me the hole would close on its own and to wait three months for another ECHO. I said, ‘No way! I want a second opinion right away.' I feel very lucky that I pushed for it.” 

Good News and Bad News 

Miranda recalls feeling relieved during a Feb. 7 “second opinion” visit when a local pediatric cardiologist performed another ECHO and confirmed the hole in Levi’s heart would heal on its own over time. However, her relief quickly faded when the doctor diagnosed Levi with coarctation of the aorta—a narrowing of the main artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. 

Miranda said she feels blessed that the second ECHO ultimately uncovered an even more severe congenital heart condition—one that might have gone undiagnosed longer if not for her vigilance and Levi’s RSV and persistent battle with pneumonia. 

In addition to the hole in his heart, Levi was diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta, a congenital heart defect with the exact cause unknown. Since the condition can be hereditary, Levi’s twin, Suni, will eventually be screened for it, though she is not currently showing any signs. 

Ten days later, on Feb. 17, 4-month-old Levi underwent another ECHO. By then, his condition had worsened. His pneumonia and breathing challenges weren’t improving, and Miranda was told the problem could soon begin affecting his kidneys and other organs. 

“They said Levi needed a stent right away and told us to go home, pack our bags and get to Manning Family Children’s  in New Orleans,” Miranda said. 

Expert Care at Manning Family Children’s 

That night, Levi was admitted to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Manning Family Children’s where he had a CT scan right away. The news wasn’t good. 

Timothy Pettitt, MD, a congenital cardiac surgeon at Manning Family Children’s, met with Miranda and Brandan and explained that Levi needed more than a stent. “He told us that he didn’t think a stent was enough and that it likely would not hold,” Miranda recalled. “Dr. Pettitt was certain Levi needed more extensive open heart surgery.” 

After meeting Dr. Pettitt, Miranda said she felt much calmer. “Dr. Pettitt is so kind and compassionate. I love him. He was very thorough and explained everything in such detail that I didn’t have any questions after we spoke,” she said. “He made me feel like Levi was going to be OK and promised he said he would take care of him.” 

Dr. Pettitt performed open-heart surgery on February 19 and said Levi came through like a champ. During the surgery, he removed the narrowed portion of the aorta and stitched the two healthy ends together to restore normal blood flow. This helped Levi’s heart pump blood more easily and effectively to the rest of his body, improving his health.  

Miranda is incredibly grateful for the mobile app offered by Manning Family Children’s, which keeps parents informed every step of the way when their child is undergoing a procedure. “Someone from the operating room texted us throughout the surgery,” she said. “It made me feel so much more at ease. I received updates during the entire four-hour procedure, and each message brought me a sense of calm.” 

In fact, when she received the final text saying Levi’s surgery was over and that he was doing well, she said she could “finally breathe again.”  

“He did amazing in recovery,” Miranda said. “The nurses kept telling me that as the sedation lifted he was moving like he hadn’t had surgery. He even rolled over for the first time on discharge day, Feb. 25.” 

Though Levi was in the hospital for a remarkably short amount of time considering his diagnosis, Miranda said that there were so many nurses who took care of her baby boy. “The nurses at Children’s were all excellent. I can’t say one was better than the other. They are extremely caring and they bonded with him.” 

Life Goes on for Little Levi 

A few months after his operation, Levi is doing great. He has had a follow-up appointment with his local cardiologist, and unless any concerns arise, he won’t need to return to Children’s. 

Levi, who weighed 4 pounds, 8 ounces at birth, is not yet showing much interest in his “older” sister Suni, who weighed 5 pounds two ounces at birth. (Suni was born one minute before Levi!) At two months old, the roles reversed; Levi weighed 13 pounds, 15 ounces and Suni was 12 pounds. 

“They are different babies at this point,” Miranda said. “Levi loves to be cuddled and rocked and it takes a lot of work to put him down. Suni will cry for you to put her down to sleep. They have different personalities. Suni sleeps all night and Levi is not one to miss a feeding so he gets up every three hours.” 

Despite some sleepless nights, along with their two older children, Miranda and Brandan are loving life with their twins. He is back to work doing metal construction and Miranda is a phlebotomist at a hospital close to home. 

“I look at my babies and just think about them growing up and being able to do all the things healthy kids get to do,” Miranda said. “As for Levi, I’m hoping this is a small bump in his life. He is such a happy baby and I want him to have the happiest life.” 

For more information about the pediatric cardiology program at Manning Family Children’s, please visit: https://www.manningchildrens.org/services/heart-center/heart-center-programs/