Erin
27-year-old | Tetralogy of Fallot patient
As a child, Erin dreamed of being a nurse. Today, she's living her dream.
Do what your heart desires
When Erin was little, she always dreamed of being a nurse. Now, she is doing just that. Like most children with a heart defect, Erin's condition will always need to be monitored. But today she's not only being seen at The Heart Center at Children’s Health℠, she's seeing patients of her own. Find out how Erin made her childhood dream into a heartfelt career.
Favorite Care Team Member
Providing heartfelt care
They say third times a charm. That couldn't be truer for Thomas Zellers, M.D., pediatric interventional cardiologist at Children's Health and Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern. Erin was his third patient here, and he’ll never forget her. From diagnosis to nursing school graduation to adult congenital heart care, Dr. Zellers has been by Erin's side from the beginning, helping her and in turn learning from her.
Patient Story
Repairing a broken heart
At just nine months old, Erin Hunter, RN, BSN, underwent her first open heart surgery at Children’s Medical Center Dallas to repair a congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot, or TOF for short. Seven surgeries and two decades later, she’s living a healthy, happy life and realizing her dream of caring for children just like herself. Give to make other children’s dreams possible.
Graduation
Graduating with all her family
In 2012, Erin graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in nursing proudly wearing a photo of her father on her cap. Her mother plus a number of nurses and doctors from Children’s Health, including Dr. Zellers, were also by her side. In the future, Erin hopes to see one of her own patients graduate from medical school. Are you ready to join our team?
