Sawyer’s Heart Warriors

Family and friends,

Thank you for taking the time to visit our site. We never thought we would be here posting this difficult news, but we are thankful for our community of support- “Sawyer’s Warriors.” 

Shortly after our 20 week ultrasound, the doctor called us to say they noticed something off with Sawyer’s heart and we needed to be seen for a follow up at Seattle Children’s. What followed was a 7 hour appointment: 3 hours of ultrasounds, an amniocentesis procedure, and consultations with fetal cardiologists and maternal fetal medicine. We were told Sawyer has hypoplastic right heart syndrome, tricuspid atresia, and a ventricular septal defect. Basically, those are fancy medical terms that mean only the left side of his heart fully formed. The doctors offered us 3 options: abortion, let the baby be born and die naturally, or go through a series of surgeries after birth with a 60% survival rate nationally (higher if performed at Children’s, they told us). We chose the latter.

Sawyer will need open heart surgery within his first week of life, again between 3-6 months old, and again between 2-4 years old. Sawyer will need to be monitored at Seattle Children’s on the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) for at least a month after his first surgery.

 This is a 1 in 60,000 diagnosis and despite the amniocentesis and genetic counseling, doctors aren’t sure why it’s happened and we may never know. Because of Children’s reputation as one of the best critical care hospitals in the United States (ranked 24 out of the top 50), they do about 550 pediatric heart surgeries a year- the most of any pediatric hospital in the Pacific Northwest. 

The doctors say Sawyer is not struggling while he is in the womb, and Tessa can carry him to full term. She is required to deliver at UW and will have a few hours with Sawyer before he is taken by ambulance with Jack to Seattle Children’s, just five minutes down the road. (Seattle Children’s does not have a birthing unit). Tessa can follow as soon as she’s recovered from birth. 

While this has been incredibly difficult to process, we are confident in our team of doctors. We know it is going to be a long journey, but we cannot wait to meet our little boy and be the strong and loving parents he needs- Sawyer’s Warriors. 

Friends and family have asked how they can help.

•  First and most importantly, your prayers, positive thoughts, and support mean the most to us. 

• Sawyer won’t be able to wear over the head onesies while in the hospital due to wires and IV’s. Any cute hats, booties, and mittens are more than welcome! He can wear gowns/onesies/swaddles that Velcro or have buttons. No zippers please.

• While there are a few first-come sleeping rooms at the hospital, we may need a few nights in a hotel to get some rest and freshen up during our month long stay. We also won’t be up for cooking/likely won’t have access to a full kitchen- so UberEats or DoorDash gift cards are welcomed. And of course, there are medical bills. 

For those interested in learning more about Sawyer’s diagnosis, and following our journey, please visit our Caringbridge website.

Thank you for all of your love and support.