With all the things that could go wrong during a pregnancy, it’s a miracle when babies are born perfectly healthy. Yet, these parents were left hoping for a real miracle when a rare condition threatened their newborn’s life.
In baby Lincoln’s first seven months, he underwent multiple surgeries and even came uncomfortably close to passing away because of a rare heart condition called Heterotaxy Syndrome, which causes organs like the heart to develop on the opposite side of the body. Despite his initial surgeries, doctors knew his heart would not last and added him to the heart transplant list.
While Lincoln and parents Rob and Mindy Seay waited for a match, the seven-month old’s health quickly deteriorated, and he spent most days sleeping. 89 days after being added to the transplant list, and just four days after being revived from cardiac arrest, they found a match for Lincoln. However, while waiting for the new heart to arrive, doctors had to start the surgery early when Lincoln’s heart stopped for the second time so they could put him on the heart bypass machine.
However, while waiting for the new heart to arrive, doctors had to start the surgery early when Lincoln’s heart stopped for the second time so they could put him on the heart bypass machine.
“We were praying for a miracle and that moment in time it’s fair to say we got a miracle,” Rob said. “Because the heart was en route, they went ahead and opened his chest and the surgeon reached in and hand compressed his heart until the new heart arrived.”
Once the heart arrived, everything went according to plan and Lincoln woke up from surgery completely refreshed. “His color is incredibly different, it’s pink and vibrant and he woke up with so much energy,” Mindy said. “We joked, ‘He woke up thinking he was the Hulk.'”
Days after the surgery, the family was feeling relieved and thankful for the donor child’s sacrifice, which had saved their infant’s life. “I will treasure that heart more than I’ve ever treasured any gift,” Mindy wrote. “I will care for that gift to the very best of my ability and will be sure we always give reverence and respect to the child and the family from which it came.”
Can you believe how close Lincoln came to almost not finding a matching heart donor in time? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this incredible story on Faccebook.
[Featured image credit: YouCaring]
This Infant’s Heart Was In The Wrong Place: A Last-Minute Transplant Saved His Life is an article from: LifeDaily