Violet Bailey
Coordinated Care, Confidence for the Future
To anyone who doesn’t know her story, 3-year-old Violet Bailey of Martinsburg, West Virginia looks like a typical toddler, just a little smaller.
“She’s fiery,” her mother, April Bailey, said with a laugh. “Very spicy. She has a lot of opinions. She loves pasta and strawberries, Bluey and Elsa.”
But Violet’s childhood has been anything but typical. Her complex medical journey began before she was born.
During an early ultrasound, doctors discovered an abnormal, fluid-filled cyst on the back of Violet’s neck. April and her husband were quickly referred to WVU Medicine maternal-fetal medicine specialists, where they learned Violet would likely be born with significant medical needs, including a congenital heart defect and other serious conditions.
At 39 weeks, Violet was born at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, and was immediately admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Her cardiology team from WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital, including Christopher Mascio, MD, and Rabia Noor, MD, was already in place to quickly evaluate her condition and develop a treatment plan.
Being in the right place, April said, made all the difference.
“The team was really on top of it,” she recalled. “We had a diagnosis within two weeks of her being born.”
By the time she was 13 months old, Violet had undergone seven surgeries.
Coordinated Care, Close to Home
As Violet grew and stabilized, WVU Medicine helped bring care closer to home. Telemedicine cardiology visits began around her first birthday, reducing long trips to Morgantown and easing the strain on a busy family with seven children.
A key connection has been Abigail Crawford, APRN, CNP, chief advanced practice provider for pediatric telemedicine, who is deeply involved in coordinating Violet’s care.
“She gave me her personal cellphone number,” April said. “If I call, text or send a message, she gets back to me immediately. She knows the right people to talk to and makes things happen.”
That coordination was critical during Violet’s earliest days, when frequent weight checks and follow-ups could have meant endless appointments.
“Not having to drive 30 minutes just to put her on a scale was phenomenal,” April said. “That was a lifesaver during those really big survival days when Violet was little.”
“Providing care in the right place at the right time makes such a difference for families like Violet’s,” said Crawford. “Our goal is to make sure children receive expert care while spending as much time as possible at home, being kids. It’s truly been a joy to be part of Violet’s journey and to watch her grow, thrive and hit new milestones.”
Today, Violet’s medical schedule looks quite different. She sees her specialty team twice a year and has been discharged from every other specialty service she once needed. Years of occupational, physical and speech therapy have paid off, and she no longer qualifies for additional services.
A Plan for the Future
Looking ahead, Violet will likely need more cardiac interventions, but the Baileys feel confident in their plan.
“We’ve chosen to stick with WVU,” April said. “We’re confident in the team, confident in the plan and confident that Violet is exactly where she needs to be.”
For April, seeing Violet run and play feels nothing short of miraculous.
“It’s such an answer to prayer to have her in a place where she can just be a kid now,” she said. “So much of her life hasn’t been that way.”
With coordinated care spanning Martinsburg and Morgantown and a community of providers firmly in her corner, Violet’s story continues full of resilience, joy and the confidence that comes from knowing expert care is never too far away.