“When I was 16 weeks pregnant, my doctor realized something was wrong with Shae’s heart. We saw a cardiologist and found out he had hypoplastic left heart syndrome. A week after he was born, he had his first open heart surgery called the Norwood. It was then the doctors also diagnosed him with Heterotaxy (which is basically his organs tried to mimic themselves) and he had malrotation of his intestines. Having heterotaxy means his spleen doesn’t work properly so he will need antibiotics to help him fight off infections.

When he was 2 months old we were getting ready to go home, but suddenly his oxygen dropped. He had a heart cath and his doctors found he was in complete heart failure and needed to be transferred to Children’s Dallas for a transplant. After another open heart surgery, Shae was able to come home for the first time and wait for a heart. He finally came home at 7 months old. Him being home was a blessing, but it was the hardest thing I had ever had to do. I literally became a nurse without the degree.

When Shae was 14 months old, he caught RSV, whooping cough, and adenovirus all at the same time. His oxygen was low and needed to be immediately taken to the hospital. At that point, he was put higher on the transplant list because his heart and lungs were very sick. 1 month later we received our call at midnight on September 29th 2023, there was a heart for Shae.

3 months post transplant, he got COVID and the antibodies were attacking his heart. We fought rejection for weeks. It was confirmed he had coronary artery disease and needed another transplant. He had to stay in the hospital until he was able to get another heart. Shae got his second transplant September 28, 2024, just one day before his anniversary of his first heart transplant.

He is now 6 months post transplant and doing great! He is talking, running, and playing with his 3 brothers and 3 sisters. He is always so happy. We are so blessed and thankful for every moment we have with him and all of our kids. We thank God every single day that he chose us to be their parents.”