Owen

Owen was born on June 25th, 2008 with HLHS (Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome).

My newborn son was born with half a heart, a condition not compatible with life. I have written those words probably a thousand times. They still hit me like a ton of bricks. We were a typical family, almost ideal! Short of a white picket fence, we were the quintessential family. I was a stay at home mom with two kids, a boy and a girl. My husband and I decided to add one more to our family.

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Joshua

Diagnosed with Pulmonary Atresia (a completely blocked pulmonary valve)

Joshua was diagnosed with Complex Pulmonary Atresia (a completely blocked pulmonary valve during a fetal ECHO when I was 22 weeks pregnant, our care was transferred from our midwife to Mt. Sinai special pregnancy unit and from there we began weekly ultra sounds and a host of other tests.

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Colena

Born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome or HLHS

On November 24, 1999, I had a scheduled ultrasound to see why I was so late for delivery. On that day the ultrasound technician was extremely quiet and the testing took a long time. During the ultrasound, the tech discovered I was already in labor and she urged to me go to the hospital.

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Matt

Born with a life threatening heart defect

Sixteen years ago, only hours after birth, our son Matthew, was flown to Toronto Sick Kids hospital with a life threatening heart defect. As we watched our first born leave, we realized we never got to hold or hug him, just a small kiss between all the wires and tubes, a Polaroid the Ambulance attendants gave us, and another inquiry asking if we want Matthew baptized.

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Tyson

Born with complex congenital heart defects (CHD)

Tyson is a spunky five year old boy who was born with several complex congenital heart defects. His most serious and complex defect is a heart anomaly called Tricuspid Atresia, which is when the heart develops without a tricuspid valve. As a result, the lower right chamber of his heart didn't develop properly so he also has what's called Hypoplastic Right Ventricle. It basically means he was born with half a heart and his heart is unable to properly oxygenate blood to the lungs and the rest of his body.

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