For the past few years, 19-year-old Jesse Fonseca has been in and out of hospitals.
He has gone through panic attacks, dealt with his abnormal heartbeat, and earlier this year, survived a full cardiac arrest.
When he was in high school, Fonseca was diagnosed with Pectus Excavatum. His story was featured previously in the Collegian on Nov. 2.
The condition gives a sunken appearance to the breastbone. It was then attributed to many of his heart irregularities. He was told he would have corrective surgery when he was of age.
That day finally came.
On Nov. 6, Fonseca had surgery to correct his breastbone, affected by his diagnosis.
The nearly three-hour surgery, which would worry most, did not shake him.
“I wasn’t anticipating it, wasn’t frightened. The day we got to the hospital I waited in the waiting room with a blanket on me,” Fonseca said.
The doctors broke the cartilage in his chest and inserted a metal plate to stabilize his chest.
“It’s there indefinitely,” He said.
Since the surgery, his at-home recovery has been steady.
“I can walk, I can’t run. [I have to] wait three months to do cardio … full recovery in six months,” he said.
Because of fluid still in his chest, Fonseca has to sleep sitting up for the next few months.
He despises it but said, “I’ll be able to do it.”
Fonseca will not be able to return to Delta’s campus next semester, but it doesn’t mean he won’t continue his education. He plans to take online classes.
