Charleston Family Raises Awareness for Fetal Heart Health

Ashton Feldman's journey highlights the importance of early detection and specialized care for congenital heart defects.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 6:39pm

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Aniko and Roland Feldman's son Ashton was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) during a routine prenatal ultrasound. The family worked closely with the medical team at MUSC to monitor Ashton's condition and perform life-saving surgery when he was just 6 months old. Now a thriving 3-year-old, Ashton's story is inspiring others to prioritize prenatal care and learn CPR.

Why it matters

Congenital heart disease affects about 1 in 100 babies, making it a relatively common but serious condition. Early detection and access to specialized care can make a critical difference in outcomes. Ashton's story highlights the importance of prenatal monitoring and the life-changing impact of MUSC's collaborative network of pediatric cardiologists.

The details

During a routine prenatal ultrasound, doctors noticed abnormal motion in Ashton's heart, leading to a diagnosis of AVSD - a congenital heart condition affecting the center of the heart. Ashton underwent open-heart surgery at 6 months old to repair the defect. The goals were to separate the heart into two functioning sides and fix the leaky valves. After a successful surgery, Ashton is now a thriving 3-year-old with no major restrictions on his activities.

  • Ashton was diagnosed with a heart defect while Aniko was pregnant.
  • Ashton spent his first 24 hours in the pediatric ICU after birth.
  • Ashton underwent open-heart surgery to repair the defect at 6 months old.

The players

Aniko Feldman

Ashton's mother.

Roland Feldman

Ashton's father.

Dr. Mac Felmy

A pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon at the Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital at MUSC.

Dr. Nicole Kain

A pediatric cardiologist with MUSC.

Dr. Scott Bradley

A doctor who used a heart diagram to explain Ashton's defect to the Feldman family.

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What they’re saying

“We were really scared.”

— Aniko Feldman

“Knowing the diagnosis in utero allowed us to create a plan before he was even born.”

— Dr. Nicole Kain, pediatric cardiologist with MUSC

“When you think about it, a baby's heart is incredibly small. Two baby fists together—that's about the size of the heart we're operating on.”

— Dr. Nicole Kain, pediatric cardiologist with MUSC

“We had a serious God moment through all of this.”

— Roland Feldman

“Seeing him so lively—it brought tears to my eyes. It was amazing.”

— Roland Feldman

What’s next

Ashton still sees his cardiologist once a year for routine follow-up to ensure his heart continues to grow and function properly as he gets older.

The takeaway

Ashton's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection and access to specialized care for congenital heart defects. By sharing their experience, the Feldman family hopes to encourage other parents to prioritize prenatal care, attend routine ultrasounds, and learn life-saving skills like CPR.