Sawyer the Warrior Post Heart Transplant Journey

Sawyer was born a few weeks early and with one kidney so he was admitted to the NICU from birth just for observation. He was doing great and was supposed to go home within a few weeks. Unfortunately on his sixth day of life he spiked a fever and his heart rate shot in to the mid 300’s. He was transported to a local children’s hospital where he sustained those high heart rates for three days.

They tried everything to lower his heart rate but it became clear very quickly that his life was in extreme danger. On the third day his heart did lower to a more normal sinus rhythm but test results showed that he tested positive for a virus he caught in the nicu - and it attacked his heart. He was then transferred by helicopter to a hospital capable of doing heart transplants.

He waited in the hospital 229 days before he received a heart from an angel. He came home at 9.5 months old for the first time.

Since his initial discharge, Sawyer has been admitted to the hospital 9 times due to complications or viral infections threatening his health. It was also confirmed by his neurologist that he had a series of strokes during the attack on his heart which explained the loss of the ability to suck and swallow which is why he is g tube fed.

When not in the hospital, Sawyer is constantly being seen by one specialist or another. He sees:

Nephrology

Urology

Neurology

Dietitian

GI

G tube clinic

Cardiology

Pulmonology

Occupational therapy

Physical therapy

Speech therapy

and more.

This experience completely financially devalued us - and 19 months in, we have relied on the help and love from others to get us through paying the bills that come along side having a medically fragile child as well as just the normal ones of life.

We sre so grateful for the support from everyone who loves our family and most importantly we are so grateful for our donor. We are confident that we can and will rebuild our lives.