Mason Needs a Heart Transplant - Help the Family

Mason Jeffrey Holbrook

                                   March 28th, 2014 – Present

On March 28th, 2014, Mason was born to Kay and Kevin via emergency C-section.  Mason had been doing flips and had wrapped the umbilical cord around his neck and tied it in a knot.  When he arrived all seemed to be healthy except a slight murmur in his chest. It was believed that this was the normal sound that most babies are born with that goes away relatively soon after birth. In Masons case this turned out not to be true.

 Over the next day concerns grew and Mason was transferred to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Once there Mason was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. Within the week he had the first of multiple heart surgeries to repair the damage.  These surgeries resulted in repairs being made but also the installation of a pacemaker and a shunt placed from his head to heart to drain fluids. Mason spent the first three months in the hospital as he began his fight for life.

The next few years contained countless doctors’ appointments, checkups and labs. On April 26th, 2016 Mason was checked into the hospital with the rhinovirus, (the basis of the common cold). However, to kids in his medical shape it can wreak havoc. As he was settling into his room he had a stroke and went into cardiac arrest.  The staff was able to revive him and with the help of an ECMO machine (type of bypass), saved his life.

Mason had recovered and was trying to progress with a normal life.  Three years later Mason was once again checked into the hospital. This time fighting a strand of influenza A.  On May 21st, 2019 Mason coded and went into cardiac arrest again. The quick staff was able to bring him back quickly. He is currently recovering in the hospital.

With all Mason's complicated medical history, doctors have finally made the decision that the best course of treatment for him is to list him for a heart transplant. Since he has multiple issues to be concerned with they expect his hospital stay and wait to be an extended one.  Their mission currently is to keep him stable and strengthen him for the best chance of survival.

When not in the hospital, Mason loves playing with his brother, going to school and of course watching his favorite show, The Masked Singer.

We are looking for donations for this family for the benefit that is being held at Joker’s 5 bar and grill, in West Bend WI on August 10th from 10am-5pm