Ryan's Song
Donation protected
This is the story of my brave little boy's journey- though his time with us was too short, his presence will live on forever....
Ryan was born November 26, 2019 with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome with Dextrocardia and Heterotaxy. What that means is that only the left side of his heart developed, was flipped backwards and on the left side of his chest and some of his other organs were in different places. He was born 5 weeks early because I developed pre-eclampsia. When he was 2 days old he had open heart surgery to put bands around his pulmonary arteries and attempt to place a stent in his aorta. He was placed on the heart transplant list and 7 months later on August 19th a call came with a donation. On the morning of August 20th Ryan received his new heart. Ryan experienced many ups and downs and brought many great joy with his infectious smile and charismatic personality.
He loved music and to dance when his music, physical, and Occupational therapists worked with him. He loved people!
The day before his first birthday his health declined due to an infection and he was placed on veno-venous ECMO to bypass his lungs and give them a rest. He was doing well, then developed another infection that he was not able to fight due to the immunosuppressants he was taking to prevent his body from rejecting his heart. On December 7th at 4:14 am he passed in my arms. They brought in a bed so I could hold him even though he was still on the vent, ECMO, with chest tubes, IVs, art lines and monitors. I just wanted to hold Ryan in his final hours. He will be forever in our hearts. ️
He will be missed every moment of every day by our family. Due to an extended time spent at the U of I Hospitals, the expenses still remain. On behalf of my family, thank you in advance for your contribution and supporting my family during this most difficult time.
Ryan was born November 26, 2019 with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome with Dextrocardia and Heterotaxy. What that means is that only the left side of his heart developed, was flipped backwards and on the left side of his chest and some of his other organs were in different places. He was born 5 weeks early because I developed pre-eclampsia. When he was 2 days old he had open heart surgery to put bands around his pulmonary arteries and attempt to place a stent in his aorta. He was placed on the heart transplant list and 7 months later on August 19th a call came with a donation. On the morning of August 20th Ryan received his new heart. Ryan experienced many ups and downs and brought many great joy with his infectious smile and charismatic personality.
He loved music and to dance when his music, physical, and Occupational therapists worked with him. He loved people!
The day before his first birthday his health declined due to an infection and he was placed on veno-venous ECMO to bypass his lungs and give them a rest. He was doing well, then developed another infection that he was not able to fight due to the immunosuppressants he was taking to prevent his body from rejecting his heart. On December 7th at 4:14 am he passed in my arms. They brought in a bed so I could hold him even though he was still on the vent, ECMO, with chest tubes, IVs, art lines and monitors. I just wanted to hold Ryan in his final hours. He will be forever in our hearts. ️
He will be missed every moment of every day by our family. Due to an extended time spent at the U of I Hospitals, the expenses still remain. On behalf of my family, thank you in advance for your contribution and supporting my family during this most difficult time.
Organizer
Lisa Paxton
Organizer
Eldridge, IA