At just 22 weeks pregnant, our world changed forever.
We were told that our son, Luke, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD). In that moment, everything felt uncertain. We were faced with decisions no parent ever expects to make, along with overwhelming fear of the unknown.
But through research, and an unwavering love for our son, we chose hope.
From that point on, Luke’s journey became one of strength and resilience. We spent the remainder of my pregnancy preparing for what was ahead - countless doctor appointments, monitoring, and learning everything we could about his condition.
When Luke was born, he struggled to breath, to eat, to smile. He burned more calories than he could intake. Sleepless nights weren't because of the newborn stage hunger, it was because we had to wake him to feed so he could gain weight. Lasix and Digoxin were given each day to keep his heart pumping. But the failure to thrive and heart failure were full force.
At only 2½ months old, Luke weighed only a 9lbs (he was born 8lbs 7oz) and underwent open-heart surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Watching your baby go through something so major is something no parent can truly prepare for but Luke faced it with incredible courage.
And today… he is thriving.
Luke is now a happy, energetic, and loving little boy who continues to inspire us every single day. His journey is a reminder of how strong these heart warriors truly are and how important research, medical advancements, and support systems are for families like ours.
Congenital heart defects affect nearly 1 in every 100 babies and remain the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths. But because of organizations like The Children’s Heart Foundation, there is hope...hope for better treatments, better outcomes, and one day, a cure.
We share Luke’s story not only to celebrate how far he has come, but to help other families facing similar journeys.
Your support means more than you know. It helps fund critical research, supports heart families, and brings us one step closer to a future where no parent has to hear the words we once did.
Thank you for being part of Luke’s journey. ?
