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Uhart returns to the court

Senior recovers from heart defect surgery

By Rustin Dodd

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Natalie Uhart is back. Again.

Those five words have become a familiar chorus to Uhart, a senior middle blocker. Injuries and medical issues have plagued a career that has spanned five years and two schools — Uhart played her first three years at Long Beach State University, starting in 2003.

The latest medical episode ended last Wednesday when Uhart returned to the floor after missing ten matches to receive treatment for a congenital heart defect. Uhart made an immediate impact during Kansas’ loss to No. 1 Nebraska. The Lansing native had 7 kills and 2 digs against the Huskers.

“I am excited about putting this all behind me,” Uhart said in a statement issued by the Athletics Department.

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Uhart suffered from a patent foramen ovale. It’s a hole in the heart’s septum, which is the membrane dividing the upper chambers of the heart, said Larry Magee, team physician for Kansas Athletics. Uhart’s Sept. 12 surgery closed the hole. “Everyone has the hole before they are born. It usually closed at birth or soon after; for about 20 percent of the population, it doesn’t. Most people who have a PFO have no symptoms or problems,” Magee said in a statement issued by the Athletics Department. Magee said that a small percentage of people with a PFO would experience symptoms that could be made worse with intense exercise. Symptoms include dizziness and weakness.

Uhart first became ill during Kansas’ match at Michigan State on Aug. 31. According to the press release, Uhart suffered from dizziness and weakness, and she was hospitalized in Lansing, Mich. Doctors diagnosed Uhart with a congenital heart defect called a patent foramen ovale, or PFO.

Uhart underwent surgery on Sept. 12 to repair the heart defect.

“I made the decision to have the surgery because I wanted to be able to play to my full potential during every match without reservation,” she said.

The heart defect is the third medical obstacle Uhart has overcome in the past four years. After transferring before last season, Uhart suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the team’s preseason alumnae match and missed the entire season. Uhart also ruptured her patellar tendon during her sophomore season at Long Beach State and missed eight months.

Uhart still has another year of eligibility after this season. She was granted a medical hardship waiver by the Big West conference after only playing in five games in 2005 and was issued a medical redshirt after not playing last season.

“She has overcome a lot since joining us, and we know she will be a force for us in Big 12 action,” Kansas coach Ray Bechard said in the statement.

Kansas is 9-6, 2-3 in the Big 12, and Uhart’s presence at middle blocker should help Kansas during its final 15 conference games as the Jayhawks try to return to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five years.

“There’s nothing I want more than to help this team get back to the NCAA tournament,” Uhart said.

— Edited by Matt Erickson

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