Thomas' Story...

In the summer of 2010 we were extremely happy to be adding a baby boy to our family. At 29 weeks, after having difficulty viewing the anatomy of the heart, my OB sent me to a perinatologist to have a Level 2 ultrasound. During the ultrasound, the technologist confirmed that there seemed to be some abnormality with our baby's heart. She then went to get the doctor and after his scan, he diagnosed our unborn baby with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. He immediately sent us to another hospital to see a Pediatric Cardiologist. After doing a fetal echo scan, she sat us down and confirmed the perinatologist's diagnosis. Basically she told us, the left side of his heart was severely underdeveloped in utero and without open heart surgery within the first few days of life, the condition was 100% fatal. He would then require 2 more surgeries, at 6 months and 3 years of age.

Thomas was born on October 20, 2010 and underwent his first heart surgery at 5 days old. He was discharged after 30 days and monitored by his cardiologist until his second surgery at 6 months old. Unfortunately, there is no cure or fix for his heart condition. The surgeries are merely a way to reroute blood circulation so that he can live and function with just a 2 chamber heart. The surgeries are palliative and if/when his heart starts to fail, he will require a heart transplant. Thomas is now 3 years old and currently awaiting his 3rd open heart surgery, which is scheduled for May 20, 2014. Thomas has proven to be a strong and resilient little boy. He continues to amaze us as he tackles the obstacles that his heart condition puts on him. Our hope is that one day God provides the medical advances necessary to give Thomas, and all the other kids born with HLHS, a brighter future.