As a little girl growing up in rural Utah, Malea Potter dreamed of having a big family of her own one day. Surrounded by eight sisters, one brother and a lot of cousins, family was at the center of her life.
But long before she understood what it meant, Malea was living with a congenital heart condition that would shape the course of her life.
How a Heart Condition Can Change Everything
Doctors discovered early on that she had a bicuspid aortic valve, a condition that caused narrowing in the valve and required careful monitoring throughout childhood. Year after year, her mother took her to appointments at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Even then, Malea’s mom taught her an important lesson: listen to your body.
At age 11, Malea underwent her first heart procedure after experiencing chest pain while jumping rope with her sisters. Though she was young, her parents understood this would not be the end of her heart journey.
As she grew older, the reality of living with congenital heart disease became harder to ignore.
Facing an Uncertain Future
When Malea transitioned to adult cardiology care around age 18, she began hearing something that deeply affected her future: pregnancy might not be possible.
“For me, that really hit hard,” Malea shared. “Would I be able to have a family?”
Still, Malea held tightly to her faith and the belief that the right path and the right people would find her.
That belief led her to Colton Potter.
The two met at a college bonfire and quickly formed a connection. Early in their relationship, Malea told Colton about her heart condition and the surgeries she would likely need one day. His response never wavered.
Searching for the Right Care Team
The couple married in 2012 and later moved to San Antonio. Eventually, they began asking the question they had carried for years: Could they safely start a family?
That search led them to the specialists at University Health Women’s Heart Center.
Malea first met maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Ellie Zanakis, who referred her to cardiologist Dr. Ildiko Agoston, a pioneer in women’s heart health.
Dr. Agoston ordered extensive testing to better understand Malea’s condition. Although the repeated tests felt frustrating at the time, they uncovered something critical: Malea did not have a bicuspid valve after all. She had an extremely rare unicuspid aortic valve — a condition that required immediate intervention.
“At that time, they were like, not only should you not have a baby, but you need surgery,” Malea recalled.
The Women’s Heart Center team knew they needed to act quickly, not only to protect Malea’s health, but to preserve her future.
Choosing Heart Surgery for the Future She Wanted
Dr. Agoston referred Malea to cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. AJ Carpenter, with UT Health San Antonio, who walked the couple through treatment options and helped them choose the path that best aligned with their dream of becoming parents.
In November 2016, Malea underwent open-heart surgery at University Hospital.
Recovery was difficult. There were moments of fear, setbacks in the ICU and months of healing afterward. But six months later, her care team delivered the news she had hoped to hear for years: her heart was strong enough for pregnancy.
Soon after, Malea and Colton welcomed their first child, a son named Gil. Later came their daughter, Fern.
For a time, life felt beautifully normal. But congenital heart disease is lifelong.
Several years later, Malea began experiencing worsening fatigue and symptoms that reminded her that something was changing again. Additional testing revealed her valve was failing faster than expected.
This time, her team hoped to avoid another open-heart surgery.
A New Approach to Heart Care
Dr. Agoston and the multidisciplinary team at the University Health Structural Heart and Valve Center recommended a minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a procedure more commonly used in older patients. Because of Malea’s age and complex history, the decision required extensive collaboration among specialists.
The procedure was successful.
Unlike her first surgery, Malea was home after just one night in the hospital and quickly returned to the life she loved — raising her children, riding bikes with her family and pursuing a new passion for therapeutic harp music.
Malea knows there may be more procedures in her future. But she also knows she has a team beside her every step of the way.
“I don’t feel like we would be where we are today if we hadn’t found the team that we found,” she said.
Today, Malea continues to move forward with faith, gratitude and a care team beside her every step of the way. Her journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when expert heart care meets hope and determination.
Watch Malea’s full story, featured at the 2026 University Health Foundation Medical Miracles Gala.
Advanced Heart Care in San Antonio
In San Antonio, the University Health Cardiovascular Center provides advanced, comprehensive heart care for adults across South Texas.
As part of the Cardiovascular Center, the University Health Women’s Heart Center offers specialized care designed around the unique heart health needs of women.
We are also region’s only accredited Comprehensive Care Center for Adult Congenital Heart Disease, recognized by the Adult Congenital Heart Association. In addition, the Cardiovascular Center is a designated American College of Cardiology HeartCARE Center, recognizing our commitment to high-quality cardiovascular care, prevention and patient-centered treatment.
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