Billings – Natasha Barbotiko, 22, and her husband Domanic Slayton married this summer and shortly thereafter faced a life‑threatening medical emergency. A routine‑appearing valve repair turned into a ten‑hour operation that left Natasha with severe complications, including difficulty restarting her heart, bleeding, blood clots, and temporary heart and lung failure.
Family’s concerns
Michelle Kraft, Natasha’s mother‑in‑law, said the couple had spent about a year planning their wedding and were looking forward to a bright future together. “We had a beautiful wedding. It was amazing,” Kraft recalled. She described Natasha as bubbly, sweet and funny, noting that anyone who meets her quickly sees her vibrant personality.
Natasha was born with a congenital heart defect that had been monitored since childhood. A checkup in March indicated she would need open‑heart surgery to repair a valve. The family was told the procedure would last roughly six hours, but it extended to about ten hours.
Complications during surgery
According to the family, the surgical team faced serious challenges, including the need to stop Natasha’s heart for several hours before attempting to restart it. They also reported significant bleeding, formation of blood clots, and temporary failure of both heart and lungs. After stabilizing her, doctors transferred Natasha to a facility in Salt Lake City for additional care.
Questions remain
Michelle Kraft expressed frustration over the lack of information regarding the surgeon’s experience with this specific procedure. “We were told what the best outcome would be, but we weren’t told how many times this procedure has been done. Has it been done a million times? Fifty times? That makes a big difference in how much we know about the outcome,” she said.
While the family is not seeking to assign blame, they are seeking a clearer understanding of the decisions made during the operation and why the risk level seemed high.
Hospital response
MTN News reached out to Intermountain Health for comment. The hospital declined to discuss the individual case, citing patient privacy policies.
Community support
Friends, family and community members are rallying around Natasha and Domanic. A GoFundMe page has been created to help cover medical expenses and ongoing care costs. Donations can also be made in Natasha Barbotiko’s name at any Stockman Bank location.
The family remains hopeful as Natasha continues her recovery, grateful for the outpouring of prayers and financial assistance.
Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.
