Kyle's mum and dad David and Candy sent their story to Left Heart Matters.

Our names are David and Candy. I was 18 weeks pregnant when we had our first ultarsound. The OB never told us what he really said, but said he questioned the development of the heart, and referred us to a cardiologist. It was on my daughters 4th birthday that the cardiologist had seen us, and discovered the baby had hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He gave our three options.

Do nothing- let the baby die
Heart transplant - but the baby may not receive a heart in time
3 Stage surgery - with an unpredictable life span for the baby.

We choose the 3 stage surgery. Next he explained the best chance for the baby to survive, would be for me to carry it full term.

I didn't succeed in carry the baby full term. He was born five weeks early, on 25th October 1997. He weighed 5lbs, 8oz and was 18" long. He was delivered by C-section, because he tried to come feet first. He was delivered in Daytona OH. It was planned he would go to U of M in Ann Abor.

Kyle was not stable enough to go that far, so he flew to Cincinnatti. We were lucky because they we're predicting emergency surgery for him. I was not sure why this was. I was on some strong medication and had trouble staying awake the first 12 hours. When Kyle arrived in Cincinnatti, he became stable, and was able to fly to Michigan. After 3 days in the hospital they finally released me, and we drove from the hospital straight to Michigan. We went straight to Kyle's room. He laid there medically paraylized.

Kyle went through his first surgery on November 4th 1997. Dr. Bove was his surgeon. The doctor's were pleased with the way everything went. Although another couple there warned us the day after the surgery is the worst.

When we saw Kyle after the surgery I thought it couldn't get any worse. He came back with his chest open, because it was to swollen to close it. His skin was so pale, he looked like he was dead. We went back to the Ronald McDonald house that night because we were assured everything was going as good as planned. In the middle of the night we received a call from the hospital, they said his heart rate was falling, and his blood pressure was rising, but they had it under control. They assured us once again there was no need to come to the hospital , they would call if they felt there was a reason to come. We woke early in the morning, to go and see our son. We walked in to his room, and I walked right back out. He was swollen twice the size he was at after surgery. He was bleeding from his chest. The doctors said his blood was not clotting together like it should, and his kidneys had stopped working. They also said Kyle was living from minute to minute. I had never been so scared. In time they got Kyle stable again. The next big step was the venilator. The first time they took Kyle off it only lasted a few hours. The second time it was like 12 hours. The third time he finally did it. There were other little things that slowed his healing process, and took him 5 and a half weeks before he made it home.

He came home with a feeding tube and 4 medications. He is doing great right now . As of Feb 16, 1998 He weighs 9lbs. 4oz. His cardiologist is really impressed with his health at the present time. We have got to spend the last 3 months loving our baby boy.

Now his time is coming close to go back for his second surgery. When we return home, we will let you know how it went.

I hope this will help other parents who may have to prepare themselves for something like this. It is very difficult to watch your baby go through something like that.

If anyone needs someone to talk to, email me at CCow738611@aol.com