Our son, Corey Joseph, was born December 3, 1997 at 8:15 A.M. in Madison, IN. He weighed 9 lbs and 5 oz and was 21 inches long. It wasn't until thirteen hours after his birth when we found out the most scariest thing of our lives. Corey was born with a serious heart defect, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. When I became pregnant with our third child, we were initially in shock. It was an unexpected pregnancy but as time went by, we became more and more excited as the due date came nearer. We found out we were having a boy on an ultrasound when I was about five months pregnant. This would of been our third son and even though we were secretly hoping Corey would of been a girl, once we saw our precious angel on ultrasound, we didn't care. My OB/GYN said he looked perfect and estimated that his due date would be December 15th.

The last week in November, I was dilated 4 centimeters so I was scheduled for an induction on the morning of December 3rd. After I was admitted I was told I was already 5-6 centimeters dilated, so they started me on the Pitocin. An hour and forty-five minutes later, Corey came into this world a bit dusky but crying and acting just like any other healthy newborn. It was difficult to get him to breastfeed at first but eventually he got the hang of it. Although, we did notice when Corey wasn't eating all he wanted to do was sleep. We knew newborns did sleep a majority of the day, but something just didn't seem right. Even when he wasn't sleeping, his eyes always remained closed.

At approximately 1:30 P.M., the pediatrician came in after assessing Corey, and told us he looked great but did hear a heart murmur. He said not to worry, that many babies are born with them and they usually go away as they get older.

To be on the safe side, he did want to get a chest X-ray, EKG, and an echocardiogram of Corey's heart. Within an hour, after the tests were complete, the pediatrician came back into our room and informed us it was more than just a murmur. He did not want to diagnose him with anything at this time but did tell us Corey's left side of his heart was much smaller than his right. He wanted Corey transported to Kosair's Childrens Hospital in Louisville, KY for more tests. At this time, I was discharged and Matt and I began our hour He wanted Corey transported to Kosair's Childrens Hospital in Louisville, KY for more tests. At this time, I was discharged and Matt and I began our hour journey down to Louisville, even though it felt like an eternity. We cryed all the way there, not knowing the outcome of our son's future.

Once we arrive at Kosair's, we met with two cardiologists. After they performed some more tests and evaluated Corey, they diagnosed him with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. At this time we were given the three famous options:

1. Do nothing and take him home to die
2. Heart transplant
3. A three-stage surgical procedure, the first one being the Norwood

We decided on the three-stage surgical procedure. We weren't given much hope if we would opt for the transplant because they told us many babies die waiting for a heart and we didn't even consider our first choice as an option.

To keep Corey alive until the surgery would be done, he was given a medication through his IV line, Prostaglandins. This medicine would keep his Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA) open, the hole between his pulmonary artery and aorta. This was necessary to maintain blood flow throughout his body because otherwise he would die. We were fortunate he did not have to be intubated until he went in for surgery.

Corey underwent the Norwood procedure on December 5th, when he was just two days old. He became very critical at one point during surgery. Every hour and a half to two hours, a cardiology nurse came out to the waiting room, to give us an update on how Corey was doing. About half way through the surgery, the nurse came out and said Dr. Austin (the cardiac-thoracic surgeon) wanted us to know Corey wasn't doing well and that he had a very slim chance of making it through. At that moment, the whole room became quiet and everyone just began praying. After the nurse sat with us for awhile, she got up to go check on Corey. About fifty minutes later she came back out in tears and said, "Corey's heart started to beat stronger and right now he is stable." From that day on, we all know Corey wouldn't have made it without God, all of the prayers he received, and the hands of Dr. Austin.

Corey had surgery on a Friday and his chest was sewn up on Monday, without difficulty. That evening they started taking him off the medicine that made him drowsy, and that was the first time we ever saw Corey's beautiful brown eyes. He was taken off the ventilator on Tuesday and more and more of his wires and tubes kept coming out day by day. He only had a small problem with feeding. He just didn't want to take enough at one time. By the time Corey was three weeks old, he was eating adequately and so he was discharged on Christmas Eve, around 6:00 P.M. That was the best Christmas present ever. He was sent home on Digoxin and Lasix twice a day and a fourth of a Baby Aspirin once a day.

Corey is almost five months now and continues to do well. He loves to smile and coo just like any other five month old. He can roll from his back to his stomach and vice versa. He now weighs just under fifteen pounds and continues to grow. He loves his baby food. He also loves to smile and watch television with his two older brothers, Tyler who is age 3, and Dustin who is age 2. Sometimes I think he cannot wait until he is old enough to run around and play with them.

Sometime this summer, probably in July, Corey is planning on having the Bi-directional Glenn done. He is a strong, little guy and we know he will pull through this surgery as he did with the Norwood.

When something like this happens in your life, it changes the way you look at things. Everyday becomes a gift. Without Corey, our lives would not be complete and we are thankful for everyday we have to spend with him.

To hear more about our story or just to talk, please feel free to e-mail us at mgindlin@seidata.com

Thank You,

Matt, Jenny, Tyler, Dustin, and Corey Gindling