A Heart Mom Takes Things Day by Day
By Sara Toner
I stepped into the role of being a heart mom not knowing where it would take me. I didn’t entirely understand the meaning of CHD, and why there were so many subcategories that fit under it.
My son Tyler was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) when I was six months pregnant, and I didn’t have an option to stop and think about it. His cardiologist wanted to send me to Boston to have surgery on his heart while he was still in the womb, but our days were limited.
Just eight days after we found out about his heart condition, we were on a plane to Boston to put my and my son’s lives in the hands of some of the best doctors in the country. We hit the ground running and haven’t looked back.
With the surgery in Boston a success, we now have a baby boy who has significantly less problems, but problems nonetheless. At seven months old, he’s gone through a number of surgeries and procedures, and of course there will always be a risk that he needs more.
If there’s anything I’ve learned as a heart mom so far, it’s that you need to take things day by day and minute by minute. I cherish the moments I’m watching him learn something new, and I catch myself gasping with delight finding out he gained another pound! I haven’t gone a single day since Tyler was born without thinking about the “what-ifs.” But I also haven’t gone a single day without seeing his beautiful smile, hearing his contagious laughter or watching him grow into the amazing person he is becoming.
Heart patients are truly the most spectacular humans I have ever met, and it’s because of their inspiring will to fight through everything and defy all odds. There are a lot of things you gain from being in the life of a heart warrior, whether it’s the memories, advice or inspiration. The thing I’ve taken away from this experience so far, and I hope that most have as well, is that although you may not have asked to be a heart patient, or parent, it is bestowed upon the strongest and most resilient people. I wouldn’t be who I am today if not for my son.
Sara Toner was born in Las Vegas, NV, and is now a resident of Spokane, Washington. She was blessed with her beautiful baby boy, Tyler, in spring of 2018. She learned about Mended Little Hearts when she reached out to them for support after finding out about her son’s heart condition. MLH has touched her life more than she ever expected. She is now an MLH volunteer, and hopes that she can help someone through a difficult and confusing time like MLH did for her.
