CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Rachel Pedeaux loves being a mom to her three little ones.

Her brother, Giancarlo Rodriguez, says her children miss her.

Pedeaux, 33, has been in the hospital since the day after Thanksgiving.

She was visiting family in South Florida from New Orleans when she suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed.

“She was basically found unresponsive at the house,” said Rodriguez. “Her son found her.”

Doctors discovered an undiagnosed congenital heart condition called Wolff Parkinson White.

The condition present at birth is rare with symptoms including chest pain, fainting, and rapid or fluttering heartbeats to name a few.

Pedeaux was healthy, but ended up in a coma for a week.

Her family told to say their goodbyes until she showed positive signs.

“We were saying our goodbyes, and it wasn’t until a few days later she started to open her eyes and move,” said Rodriguez. “It was something where Antoine and Maria were like, no, like, she’s there, she’s there, and we felt it from the beginning.”

She is being cared for at Kindred Hospital in Coral Gables which specializes in long term care.

Her family and doctors say little miracles are happening slowly in her recovery.

“She’s awake, she’s aware of what’s going on,” said Rordiguez. “Every day, she gets more articulate.”

Pedeaux will require extensive neurological rehabilitation and cardiac care. Her family is seeking additional medical treatments and therapies not covered by insurance to ensure Pedeaux can recover as much as possible.

She will have to relearn everything, including talking and walking. It will be a lifelong recovery, as her family is cautiously optimistic trusting medicine, God and her doctors.

“There have been amazing cases where people like her were young who made a really strong recovery,” said Rodriguez.

The family started a GoFundMe page to help with Pedeaux’s medical bills, and it can be found by clicking here.

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