Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a congenital heart defect that “leaves the left side of the heart critically underdeveloped.” According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 960 babies in the United States are born with HLHS. There are forms of treatment and surgeries (including the Norwood operation or heart transplant) available that can help those that have HLHS to live a normal life. Advancements in care are helping people live their dreams.
And that’s exactly what HLHS patient Tom Glenn, 22, is doing. The Sisters by Heart blog followed the story of Glenn with updates from Glenn’s mother Terri. The day Tom was born:
She recalls being told by physicians that Tom had a 50/50 chance of surviving and given little-to-no hope to live a normal life. As her baby is on his way to graduate school, Terri reflects on how far he’s come and could not be more amazed and proud of the man he has become, defying the odds and pursuing his dreams.
When he was only six-days old, Glenn received the Norwood procedure and was kept in ICU for 36 days. Upon being allowed to go home with new new little baby, his mother recounts how the doctors said not to let Glenn cry.
But….they were learning thru him. The other HLHS baby that died shortly before she was going to go home, had been crying right before her passing…..so they told us to NOT let Tommy cry! Oh my gosh….really?!!!? Here we were….new parents, and we are being told to NOT let our baby cry because he could die!!! Wow….but somehow, we made it thru!
He received the next stage of surgery at four-years old. That was his last surgery.
He is now following his dream, off to medical school in his pursuit to become a doctor. As parents tend to be when their child goes off to school, Glenn’s mother shared her concerns about the “long hours, stress and wondering ‘how many medical students make it though their residency WITHOUT caffeine?'”
Though many difficulties were presented at the moment Glenn was born, they persevered through the condition. He is now living a normal life and following his dream, inspiring hope in others living with HLHS. “Dreams are possible,” Glenn’s mother writes in a post from the Sisters by Heart Facebook page and Glenn exemplifies this in making his dreams a reality.
Post by Sisters by Heart.