Sam
My name is Kathy Wimberly. My husband and I have been blessed with an amazing little boy, Sam, who has changed our lives forever. We were married just over a year when we found out we were pregnant, and we were glowing with pride and excitement. Just a few months later, our world crashed down as we found out that our perfect baby was not perfect at all. Sam would be born with a broken heart.
Sam was diagnosed with Tricuspid Atresia, Hypoplastic Right Heart, Pulmonary Atresia, a VSD, and an ASD. We were told we should just end the pregnancy entirely, because Sam would likely not live long. We would never end the life of a child, so we accepted our challenge from God. We were told Sam would need three surgeries before he was 5 years old just to have a chance at surviving. We were told he would be born ‘blue’ and would be rushed by ambulance an hour away to Atlanta for his first life saving surgery. We were devastated. But we were ready to do all we could for our son.
Sam was born on December 3, 2008. He was born pink, and healthier than expected. We were blessed and were able to skip the first of his three series surgeries, and were able to bring our baby home for Christmas. Sam did slowly turn blue over the course of a few months, and we set his first surgical date for April. Sam had other plans though, and at the end of March he had a hypoxic spell. His oxygen levels dropped down to 32%, his blood pressure became unreadably low, and his heart rate shot up to 220. He nearly died that night. Through tears and sobs, I remember telling my husband that if Sam died, I would die. I meant it.
With the help of God and an amazing medical team, Sam survived. He was rushed to Atlanta and was sent straight to the OR for surgery that saved his life. He is now healthy and happy. We know he still faces at least one more surgery, and possibly a heart transplant in the future. But he is with us today, and that’s what matters.
As I write this letter, a fellow ‘Heart Mom’ is attending the funeral of her sweet son, who passed on to heaven at the age of 5 months. My heart breaks for her, and I know her story could have been mine. In fact, her story could still be mine. There is no ‘cure’ for the type of heart disease our sons suffered from. We need more awareness towards Congenital Heart Disease. We need more research into Congenital Heart Disease. We need better answers to these conditions than we have now.
I need my son to outlive me.
Kathy Wimberly