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Article: Three Young Lives in the Balance; Va. Couple Confronts Dilemma in Son's Rare Heart Disease
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 11, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Randy and Mary Dolinger were married in 15 minutes before a
justice of the peace in August. Mary was 16 years old and five
months pregnant. Randy was 20. Hardly grown up themselves, they
prepared to support the baby on the way.
Now, the couple is having to grow up fast.
Their son, Shane Allan Dolinger, was born Jan. 2 in Fairfax
Hospital without a pulmonary artery, the major pathway for blood from
the right side of the heart to the lungs.
The infant's rare heart disease has forced the young parents to
face the decision of their life. The child eventually will die if he
does not have a heart and lung transplant, one of his doctors said,
but he also will face severe health risks if the ...