About Us - Jack's Story

Jack Rannals Bryan was born to Steven and Tracey Bryan in August of 2006. At eighteen weeks gestation, his parents learned through ultrasound that he had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, meaning the left side of his heart was underdeveloped, and that his left ventricle was essentially missing. The choices for treatment were compassionate care, meaning not intervening after birth, and allowing him to die of heart failure; heart transplant or three open heart surgeries to be performed over Jack’s first two years of life.

Jack’s parents chose the surgeries, and Jack underwent a modified BT Shunt open heart surgery at two days old, followed by a Glenn open heart procedure at four months, and an interventional cardiac catheterization to address aortic stenosis at nine months of age. All surgical interventions were performed at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and Jack receives his interim care at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans.

Recently, Jack joyfully celebrated his first birthday in the company of many friends and family, including his older sisters Paige and Olivia and his older brother, Nathan. He is expected to have his next open heart surgery, the Fontan, next summer in Boston.