This is my sweet baby boy Jayce, he just turned 18, and is requiring his 6th open heart surgery at Bostons Childrens Hopital on July 24th.

Jayce was born with DeGeorge Syndrome (a missing chromosome disorder) that was accompained with congenital heart disease (Tetralogy of Fallot). Jayce was born without a Pulminary Artery and a hole in his heart. He has had 5 open heart surgeries already in his life. They initially put a patch over the hole in his heart, installed a conduit, and connected veins to make a Pulminary Artery. During his 3rd open heart surgery Jayce suffered a stroke, causing permanent brain damage on both sides of his brain as well as his brain stem. Since his stroke Jayce is non verbal, non mobile, parcially deaf, blind, and wheel chair bound. He also suffers from a seizure disorder that developed from the stroke. He requires constant care and can not do anything for himself.

Now that Jayce has grown so much he requires the patch and the conduit to be replaced. Not only has he out grown the conduit and patch, but they are currently leaking. His condition was stable until recent routine scans showed the "man made valve" was failing and leaking. So we were not expecting this at this time. His doctors have informed us that this is an emergency situation. That he requires surgery within the next three months or they fear further complications. Jayce is such a complex case and we choose to use doctors familiar with his condition so no other hospital but Boston Childrens can do this surgery for him.

Our family currently resides in Salem, Virginia. We are asking for help, Jayce needs help. This surgery, if successful, will improve and altogether save his life. We are struggling right now to make ends meet, and can't afford to stay or travel to Boston. We will have to be there for a minium of 3 weeks per his doctors. They will need to monitor and watch him after his surgery. In that time we will need help with Gas, Food, Lodging, and Bills. We also won't have any consistent income during this time due to being there with him and being unable to work.

Any help you could give would be so greatly appreciated. Please pray for my son to have a safe heart surgery and recovery. We trust in the Lord and ultimatley know his will will be done. We want Jayce to have every chance and every shot at life. We know he will never be fully healed of all his troubles or conditions. But this surgery will help make his current state more comfortable.

Thank you again for any help you can give. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts, and thank you for your time and attention to this mountain of a challenge we face.