Big Al’s Heart Heroes

Alexander, also known as Big Al, had his heart transplant at Duke University Medical Center on October 14, 2022! A week earlier he had emergency surgery on his umbilical hernia which had enlarged and begun to strangulate his intestine (10/07/22). Alex had a dry run with a first heart offer four days later. It wasn't the right heart. The gift of a new heart came from the donor and their family a few days later. This time he was blessed.

Alexander was born with a rare congenital heart condition, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), nearly 25 years ago. HLHS is a single ventricle complex heart defect. It is 100% fatal without surgical intervention. Alex has survived 4 open heart Alexander, also known as Big Al, had his heart transplant at Duke University Medical Center on October 14, 2022! A week earlier he had emergency surgery on his umbilical hernia which had enlarged and begun to strangulate his intestine (10/07/22). Alex had a dry run with a first heart offer four days later. It wasn't the right heart. The gift of a new heart came from the donor and their family a few days later. This time he was blessed.

Alexander was born with a rare congenital heart condition, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), nearly 25 years ago. HLHS is a single ventricle complex heart defect. It is 100% fatal without surgical intervention. Alex has survived 4 open heart surgeries and multiple procedures and testing over his lifetime. In the past four years, his liver has suffered damage from increased pressure. His right ventricle did all of the work. He had single right ventricle functioning with heart/body/lung circulation. His doctors began discussing transplants a year ago and after multiple examinations at 2 Maryland medical centers, Vanderbilt, and Duke- We came to Duke!

Alex was discharged on 11/01/22 for continued recovery locally. We are staying in the Raleigh/Durham area. Duke requires that the transplant family reside in the area for 8 months to a year, for the health and safety of the patient. We will be in NC until Mid-February! Alex waited in the hospital receiving inotropic infusion therapy (IV) while awaiting his new heart. After the heart transplant, he was in intensive care and cardiac units. His doctors planned visits 3-4 x a week for a month and a catheterization each week. The doctors decided after one month that he was doing so well that he could go to a once-a-month clinic visit with a cardiac catheterization! When you get a new heart, you develop patience and flexibility!

Why is he called BigAl? Alex has always been very very small for his age. He wasn’t on growth charts until high school. He was the smallest player on his adaptive sports teams in high school. His mother, Vicki, would yell, “Go Big Al!” When he was on the field, bowling, or at bat! People kept looking for a giant player. He has always been our Big Al! We often say it as one word, BigAl. Alex was a 12-season athlete in Allied Sports-Soccer, bowling, and softball at Hereford High School. 

Alex graduated from Shepherd University in WV in May 2021 with a degree in History and a minor in Spanish. We were told he would never talk when he was very very young- imagine that! He graduated Magna Cum Laude❤️

We continue Fundraising to help with the heavy costs of lodging and related expenses not covered by medical insurance. Transplantation is a lifetime experience. We are running two households. Thank you for your support and your prayers. Your love and wishes of hope are important! Thanks for being a Big Al Heart Hero!