Heart 2Heart: Eagle family says scientific research saved their son
EAGLE, Idaho - An Eagle family says their young son is alive today thanks to the doctors who saved him on the operating table more than once.
On a busy school night, no one minds the lack of elbow room on the Walker family sofa, and no one may be happier to be there than 4-year-old Andrew.
When Andrew was born, his heart only had one ventricle.
"That initial shock to your system, to be told your child has a life threatening defect, and to also be told he has Down Syndrome, my world just stopped," said Andrew's mother, Shera Mae Walker.
After birth, Andrew was in the hospital for three months, and at 8 weeks old he had his first heart surgery.
"He has had three open heart surgeries, two of them have been bypass and then numerous other medical issues and surgeries," Shera Mae said.
Andrew is not shy about showing off his battle wounds.
"He usually is pretty passionate about showing people how brave he is and sometimes he says ow-ee," Andrew's father, Danny Walker said.
Andrew is strong now, which is a far cry from where he was.
For his siblings, opportunities like baking cookies together, are all the more special.
"Well, the second heart surgery was kind of scary because I was a little bit older and I understand it a little better," said Andrew's sister, Katelin Walker.
Andrew's parents say their son wouldn't be alive without decades of heart disease research and the funding to back it.
"The research and the nature of Andrew's heart problem was so severe, that 15 or 20 years ago, those who were born simply passed away," Danny said.
Heart disease makes up about 17 percent of all dollars spent on health care.
In 2010, the total costs of treating heart disease topped $444 billion.
The Centers for Disease Control spent $56 million that year on prevention programs and research.
"I'm thankful to those and feel and obligation that I want to pay it forward to other people so that the funding can be provided so these life-saving surgeries can be performed," Shera Mae said.
The Walker children are proud of Andrew's progress.
"So next year, he's going to be in school, and I'm really looking forward to that because I get to watch out for him and see him at school," Andrew's brother, David said.
Now, the Walker family has a message for anyone fighting heart disease.
"Love them, because it was really scary," said Andrew's sister, Anna Mae. "He could have died any day. And so, you just have to give them a hug."
"My advice to any parent going through this significant of a medical issue is to just take it one day at a time," Shera Mae said. "I think your emotions can run away from you, and you start worrying about all the what if's, the if only's, things that are out of your control."
On a busy school night, no one minds the lack of elbow room on the Walker family sofa, and no one may be happier to be there than 4-year-old Andrew.
When Andrew was born, his heart only had one ventricle.
"That initial shock to your system, to be told your child has a life threatening defect, and to also be told he has Down Syndrome, my world just stopped," said Andrew's mother, Shera Mae Walker.
After birth, Andrew was in the hospital for three months, and at 8 weeks old he had his first heart surgery.
"He has had three open heart surgeries, two of them have been bypass and then numerous other medical issues and surgeries," Shera Mae said.
Andrew is not shy about showing off his battle wounds.
"He usually is pretty passionate about showing people how brave he is and sometimes he says ow-ee," Andrew's father, Danny Walker said.
Andrew is strong now, which is a far cry from where he was.
For his siblings, opportunities like baking cookies together, are all the more special.
"Well, the second heart surgery was kind of scary because I was a little bit older and I understand it a little better," said Andrew's sister, Katelin Walker.
Andrew's parents say their son wouldn't be alive without decades of heart disease research and the funding to back it.
"The research and the nature of Andrew's heart problem was so severe, that 15 or 20 years ago, those who were born simply passed away," Danny said.
Heart disease makes up about 17 percent of all dollars spent on health care.
In 2010, the total costs of treating heart disease topped $444 billion.
The Centers for Disease Control spent $56 million that year on prevention programs and research.
"I'm thankful to those and feel and obligation that I want to pay it forward to other people so that the funding can be provided so these life-saving surgeries can be performed," Shera Mae said.
The Walker children are proud of Andrew's progress.
"So next year, he's going to be in school, and I'm really looking forward to that because I get to watch out for him and see him at school," Andrew's brother, David said.
Now, the Walker family has a message for anyone fighting heart disease.
"Love them, because it was really scary," said Andrew's sister, Anna Mae. "He could have died any day. And so, you just have to give them a hug."
"My advice to any parent going through this significant of a medical issue is to just take it one day at a time," Shera Mae said. "I think your emotions can run away from you, and you start worrying about all the what if's, the if only's, things that are out of your control."
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