Team Tyson

on february 15, 2010, when i was 15 years old, i found out that i was 13 weeks pregnant. this is tyson's story. my son, tyson james sanchez was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome when i was 19 week pregnant. he has under gone 2 out of 3 open heart surgeries. he was born at the university of california, san francisco on september 19, 2010. please continue to read and follow tyson's journey as it unfolds. through all the hardships and seeing how my son had to fight to be here really taught me how precious life really is. at 11 days old tyson had his first open heart surgery called the norwood procedure. after a 3 week recovery, tyson got to come home. they called him the "rockstar baby" due to his speedy recovery! at tyson's 3 months old check-up with doctor cocalis, tyson's cardiologist, he said his oxygen saturations were too low. he was a light shade of blue and was sating in the mid 70's. even though his date for his next surgery was about a week away, doc said he needed to be on constant oxygen until his surgery. my blue baby was back in the hospital ready to take on his next open heart surgery called the glen procedure later that same day. almost half way through his recovery, his blood results came back with a high white cell count. in other words, there was infection. tyson's wound on his chest grew extremely swollen. his doctors agreed that it was too risky to just treat with antibiotics and that he would need to be opened back up for a wound debridement. well, apparently tyson couldn't wait. later that night his wound bursted while my mom and i were at his side. it was so horrible to see. every time he would cry a sirius liquid would shoot up out of his chest everywhere. i remember that night like it happened yesterday. that morning his was rushed into emergency surgery to clean out his wound. when the doctors came back the told us that his infection was not just superficial. it had touch the surface of the bone in his sternum. this meant a continuous iv antibiotic was needed for a minimum of 6 weeks. at this point, i felt like we would never be home. but surely enough, we eventually got home. after a bunch of milestones and three birthdays, tyson is almost four years old. looking at him, you would never know that he has half of a heart. he is just like a normal, healthy little boy. he is the light in my life and the reason why i'm so very thankful for all the little joys in life. i've learned that something so precious can be taken from you so quickly. it breaks my heart that i came so close to not having him in my life. he is due to have his next surgery in a couple months. i've decide to start this 'help me fund' page in hopes that my friends and family can help us out with the expenses of bills that will begin to pile up as we take on this next surgery. i will be out of work in order to stay by his bedside everyday till we come home. anything helps, even if its just a kind prayer. i dread the day of going back to hospital walls and the constant helpless feeling in my stomach. i'm so grateful for my family and everyone who has stuck by me weather it be words of encouragement or a shoulder to cry on. i cant thank you all enough for all the prayers and previous fundraisers to help my family and i through this trying time. tyson is a miracle, and i'm beyond blessed to have this little fighter in my life. --"so do not fear for i am with you; do not be dismayed for i am your god; i will strengthen you and help you; i will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - isaiah 41:10