Alex's Open-Heart Surgery


On March 8, 2007, Alexander the Greatest was welcomed into the world. Shortly afterwards, cardiologists at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando delivered the news that Alex was born with Congenital Heart Disease. He had a large VSD (hole in the heart) and Pulmonary Stenosis (a narrowed pulmonary valve).

When Alex was only four months old, he had heart surgery through his groin to balloon his pulmonary valve. His VSD was going to need repair via open-heart surgery, but miraculously, his heart muscle grew in such a way that it naturally plugged the hole in his heart (something the doctors had not seen before.) That ballooning of his pulmonary valve held strong until recently when Alex went through a major growth spurt. 

Fast forward twelve years...Alex started having palpitations, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue. After in-depth testing, his cardiology team delivered the devastating news that is was time to replace his pulmonary valve via open-heart surgery. Alex will receive a bovine valve, a valve from a cow. These valves last 10-12 years and he will need it replaced again in the future. 

Those of you who know Alex know he is the light of my life, a smart, kind, compassionate young gentleman, and an all-around great kiddo. I will be taking a two-month leave of absence from teaching to take care of Alex from his surgery on July 31st throughout his recovery.  

Alex will be in the hospital for 5-7 days and will remain in Cardiac Intensive Care the entire time. He will not be able to climb stairs to his bedroom, so we bought an electronic recliner for him to sleep in (and I will be sleeping by his side every night!) He will miss school at Bridgewater Middle for approximately 8 weeks and I will be assisting him with his schoolwork. 

If you can help in any way to offset costs so that I can be with Alex every step of the way throughout his recovery, our family would greatly appreciate it.  And if you can't, we totally understand!!! Please just keep Alex and his surgical team at Arnold Palmer in your thoughts and prayers on the morning of July 31st.  

And for those of you who bought "Team Alex" shirts, please wear them to support him! I will be playing his theme song, "You'll be in My Heart" in the cardiac surgery waiting room as family, friends, and I pray and  rally that all goes well. 

If I could lay on that table in place of Alex, I promise you I would do it in a heartbeat. From our family to yours, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts (no pun intended.)