Heart 4 Jahmal

During a routine ultrasound, Michelle Lyle and Jason Berry learned their soon-to-be son, Jahmal, would be born with a complex congenital heart defect, Coarctation of the Aorta. With limited treatment options available, this unexpected news sent the family on an emotional roller coaster in understanding the challenges that lay ahead.Difficult though the findings of that ultrasound were, the forewarning of Jahmal’s condition allowed his parents and the medical team at Ann and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago to prepare for the care he would need from the moment of birth.

An expert staff of pediatric physicians and surgeons met with Jahmal’s parents and explained what needed to be done. Jahmal ended up undergoing a series of surgeries. The first came when he was just 21 hours old—a procedure to cut out the narrowed area or make it larger so it could pump blood to his body;the defect also showed in other birth defects/condition(s), in his case, a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the wall between the heart's left and right ventricles.  Jahmal had 2 that also needed patching.

The second surgery took place at 8 months old. Following this procedure, Jahmal’s heart function began to significantly deteriorate. Seven months later, physicians attempted to mitigate this deterioration through an unplanned surgery called, The Ross Procedure.  Although the surgery was successful, a year later Jahmal was hospitalized for increased complications from a Cold Virus.  Doctors have now diagnosed him with Pediatric Cardiomyopathy; heart failure.  At only two and a half years old, doctors have come increasingly concerned about the continued deterioration of Jahmal’s heart.

Upon further evaluation, physicians have determined Jahmal will need a heart transplant much sooner than we had hoped.

What’s next…

Physicians at Ann and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago will  continue to monitor Jahmal’s progress, conducting regular echocardiograms and other tests to examine his heart. While his heart function is unstable, Jahmal has, as of this week (5/15), been listed 1A on the Heart transplant list.


Here are four things you can do within the next ten minutes to support Jahmal: 
 
1.  Hold Jahmal and our family in your thoughts and prayers as we support his journey.   

2.  Exercise your generosity. Give any amount you can through this link and give as often as you’d like.

3.  Allow your gift to multiply by sharing this link with at least five people, encouraging them to match your donation.

4.  Like our FB page "Jahmal's Journey" @Heart4Jahmal  and invite your network to support our efforts.   https://www.facebook.com/Heart4Jahmal/?modal=admin_todo_tour




Please stand with us as we join in financial support of Jahmal's healing heart journey so the family can focus on healing.


Humbly,
Michelle and Jason (Parents) and The #Heart4Jahmal Team, our collective family, friends & supporters, ....