After doctors gave up, this Grey’s Anatomy fan recalled one particular scene — and saved her daughter’s life

As entertaining as it can be, sometimes, television shows can teach more than real life can prepare you for. Take this mother, for instance. Dowaa Saleh (@nadines_heart) was informed by the doctors that her daughter would be born with a half-heart syndrome and couldn't be saved. As the pregnant mother was losing all hope, she recalled a specific episode from the popular medical drama Grey's Anatomy, which first aired in 2005. Her memory clicked just in time for her recall certain details which ended up saving her unborn child's life. Sharing the story with her Instagram followers on January 5, Saleh's video garnered over 27k likes.

Saleh was told by the doctors that her baby had 'Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome', and there was no chance of survival. Desperate to find a solution, Saleh was quickly reminded of an episode from the popular medical drama Grey's Anatomy, where she learned about fetal heart surgery, in which surgery is conducted during pregnancy, before the birth of the child. For the unversed, in Episode 22 of the medical show's twelfth season, titled 'Mama Tried', doctor Dr. Arizona Robbins operates on a fetus while it is in the mother's womb. The surgery is a success, and they are able to save both the mother and the child. 

Saleh, who recalled the particular episode, found a doctor who was willing to conduct the procedure. She shared that the surgery was a success, and expressed her gratitude towards the show for saving her daughter's life. In her caption, Saleh mentioned that she stumbled upon the show as a student when it first aired in 2005. Finding it a "cool medical show," she never knew that one day it would save her baby's life. A 2021 study authored by Vikram Halder et al. explained that fetal cardiac intervention is known to be a challenging procedure, but it can be done through early intervention. "Fetal cardiac intervention is commonly used in fetal aortic stenosis, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum, fetal tachycardia, bradycardia, heart failure," the study notes. If it weren't for Saleh's memory of watching the episode, she may not have been able to save her daughter.

Online users who were also fans of the show, like Saleh, expressed their thoughts. @lameufenvert wrote, "Grey's Anatomy ignited my passion for human biology, which led me to become a nurse, then one night, because I decided to watch 'just one more episode,' I was awake when my 15-month-old started seizing before going into respiratory arrest. She's a goofy and healthy 8-and-a-half-year-old now." @cydthescifikid commented, "Medical dramas are sensationalized, but they give people hope. And hope is the biggest thing when the world feels heavy." @liyalondon wrote, "Nowhere near as dramatic. But my cat ate my ADHD medication, and I knew from an episode in Grey's Anatomy that charcoal absorbs toxins! I forced activated charcoal crushed in water down his throat with a syringe till I could get him to the vet in a few hours. They said it saved his life."

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