Doctors first detected my nephew Vincent's preventricular contractions (PVCs) during a health exam in preparation for a surgery to fit him for a prosthetic eye when he was 7 years old. (Vince was born without one of his eyes for unknown reasons).  The eye surgery has been put on hold indefinitely until his heart condition is stabilized.

Vince underwent his first cardiac ablation procedure at Children's Hospital in Denver in December 2014, and his second in June 2015. At his last checkup in April, a CAT scan showed that one of Vince's ventricles is larger than the other, a condition caused by his heart working too hard due to the recurrence of PVCs. If left untreated, the likelihood of heart failure is extremely high. After numerous consultations with medical professionals, Vince is scheduled to undergo cardiac ablation again on May 30th at Children's Hospital in Boston.

Cardiac ablation is a procedure that destroys targeted tissue in your heart that triggers or sustains an abnormal heart rhythm. Long, flexible tubes (catheters) inserted through a vein or artery in the groin and threaded to the heart to deliver energy in the form of heat or extreme cold to modify some of the heart tissue. 

Vince's mom (my sister) has given her approval to start this campaign because the costs not covered by health insurance are expected to be in the thousands of dollars and far exceed any savings they have. Vince, now 13 years old, is a blessing to all who know him. He has kept his head high despite the challenges he's been given. He has a magnetic personality with his clever wittiness, undeniable charm, and a HUGE heart (no pun intended)!  All that Vincent and those who love him really want is that he be able to do the things and have the same opportunities as every other 13 year old boy. Hopefully this procedure will bring him one step closer to that.

Your prayers and any contributions to assist in covering medical expenses are truly appreciated.