ABOUT US
Becoming a mother for the first time was an indescribable joy—I was elated! But that joy quickly turned into devastation when I received the worst news any parent could hear: my child had a life-threatening heart condition. My miracle baby, Gavin, was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). I didn’t want to believe it, but I knew we would face this battle together.
Gavin endured four open-heart surgeries, including a heart transplant, and for a while, life was good. Then, a year later, he started getting sick. On August 17th, he was admitted to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and doctors struggled to determine what was wrong. On August 24th, during an MRI, he suffered his first cardiac arrest. It took nearly 30 minutes to resuscitate him, yet miraculously, he recovered on his own. A later MRI revealed scar tissue surrounding his heart like an eggshell, a rare condition unseen in over 20 years. He underwent open-heart surgery to remove the fibrous tissue, but some had grown into his heart, leaving us with more uncertainty.
On September 12th—his birthday—Gavin suffered another cardiac arrest and was placed on ECMO (life support). Once his organs recovered, he transitioned to a ventricular assist device (VAD) called Centrimag, which took over his heart’s function. He progressed well and was later switched to the Berlin Heart, allowing him greater mobility and the chance to qualify for another transplant. By December 4, 2017, Gavin was officially listed as a 1A heart transplant recipient.
We planned a half-birthday celebration on March 9, 2018, since his actual birthday had been spent in the hospital. But the very next day, March 10th, he suffered a stroke and was temporarily removed from the transplant list. After recovering, he was relisted and, on March 26, 2018, received his second heart transplant. As always, Gavin fought with incredible strength. His recovery wasn’t without complications—his incision became infected—but he overcame every obstacle. After nearly a full year in the hospital, we were finally discharged on August 13, 2018.
For a time, things seemed to be looking up. But then Gavin fell ill again—this time with pneumonia. We were in and out of the hospital three times before learning he had coronary artery disease, a condition typically seen 10+ years after a transplant. Then, on December 15, 2018, he suffered another heart attack but, once again, pulled through. Doctors couldn’t predict how much time he had left, but for eight miraculous months, Gavin lived life to the fullest.
At six years old, he was full of energy, charm, and joy. He went to school, played like any other child, and if you didn’t know his story, you would never have guessed what he had been through. But on August 7, 2019, our sweet Gavin took his last breath. Just two days earlier, he had suffered another heart attack while at a family birthday party, surrounded by love. He left this world with a smile.
Losing a child is a pain no parent should have to endure. Even years later, we are still picking up the pieces, though the puzzle will never be whole without Gavin. Now, we want to honor his memory by giving back to families facing similar challenges. His strength, resilience, and love continue to inspire us every day.