Our Kids - Maverick

Maverick Richard was born November 25th 2006 at the University of Michigan Mott Childrens Hospital with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. We received his diagnosis in utero at 25 weeks pregnant, we were so excited to just be finding out what we were having, and that day will forever be in my memory as if it were yesterday. We both were ecstatic to find out he was a boy, and shortly after the doctor said he wanted to speak with us, his words were "your child has a very severe life threatening heart defect and we can no longer treat you here". We were sent to another doctor a couple days later and told if we allowed our child to survive we would qualify as some very selfish people to allow him a chance at life with such a horrible disease. Needless to say we never went back to another appointment with that doctor, and I sat home scared we had NO doctor what were we going to do? One night I sat watching the Christian Channel and decided to call the prayer hotline and the very next day my mother in law called, she had talked to a lady who knew of the doctor who specialized in surgeries for HLHS - my prayers were answered! And we met with his Surgeon Doctor Bove in Michigan on September 15, 2006 and they told us Maverick was the best candidate for this surgery.

Maverick underwent his 1st open heart surgery the Norwood with the Sano shunt at 4 days old on November 29th 2006. He had a bumpy recovery with a 6 week stay in the hospital, and from being on by pass Maverick had a minor stroke which causes him to seize, we were finally released in January of 2007.

Maverick then underwent his 2nd open heart surgery the RA to PA reconstruction at 5 days shy of 8 months on July 20th 2007. We were only in the hospital for 7 days, but then we returned after being home for only 3 days, and had another 3 days in the hospital.

His neurologist attempted to wheen him from his seizure medicine due to it being from the first surgery and most kids tend to grow out of needing seizure medicine at all. After 6 weeks after being wheened from his medicine Maverick went into a seizure and his oxygen sats dropped to 48% and he became unresponsive, he was then life flighted and he now remains on seizure medicine.

Maverick had his Fontan procedure exactly 2 years after his 2nd surgery. July 20th 2009, we had a 10 day stay in the hospital with some extra bleeding during surgery, but he is doing amazing!

Maverick is a miracle, he is into electronics and learning. He is our little explorer and I wouldn't change a thing about his "heart journey" he has taught so many people about life and no matter what doctors say Mavericks heart is beautiful and just perfect.