Superman Sammy

 

This is Sammy. More known as the amazing Superman Sammy.

 

Sammy was born on April 23, 2018 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

 

Before his birth (at 19 weeks gestational age) Kortney & Garland were informed Sammy had a very rare form of Hyperplastic Left Heart Syndrome. A congenital heart defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart. A condition in which most babies born with it, without QUICK action can pass away days or even weeks after birth. They were sent to Dayton Childrens Hospital where they started monitoring Sammy in utero, but then quickly realized they were not equipped enough to handle Sammys condition in the way it was needed. They then started attending Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, all while still being told there was a chance Sammy would not make it to full term. Kortney and Garland continued to drive multiple times a week to doctors appointments, over an hour away from home until the doctors made the call to perform open heart surgery within hours of his birth. Fast forward to week 35 of Kortneys pregnancy and she was quickly admitted into Cincinnati Childrens for closer monitoring during the duration of her pregnancy. She was quickly informed that she would not be leaving and her scheduled C-section would be performed at Cincinnati Childrens by a TEAM of highly trained doctors, respiratory therapists, cardiologists etc. At week 36 Sammy was born. Less than 24 hours after birth, Sammy went under a 10 hour open heart surgery where they performed the Norwood Procedure. A procedure that had been done less than a handful of times at Cincinnati Childrens. The Norwood procedure is the first surgery of three that is required to treat HLHS and is the most complex and high risk procedure in the sequence. At less than two days old, Superman Sammy did excellent and the surgery went well! After almost 140 days in the NICU Sammy graduated to go home!

 

Kortney and Garland were given strict orders and multiple medications to administer all through the day and night. They had to adjust and learn a completely different lifestyle once they reached home as there was many things they had to do, look for, pay attention too etc. Sammy was on a feeding tube when he was brought home, and they visited Dayton Childrens frequently as Sammy would pull his feed tube out. They traveled back and forth to Cincinnati for multiple follow ups, meetings, all while raising their daughter, Sophia at the same time. One thing never changed, they always knew their Faith would pull them through. As it has. They never lost hope, they never lost their smile despite they had been through SUCH hard times.

 

At only 3 months old Sammy endured his Second open heart surgery while they performed the Glenn procedure. Sammy as always, did excellent and recovered well.

 

Sammy completed his third open heart surgery on February 4th 2021 and since has been doing so well. Passing amazing milestones and growing as a perfect three year old boy should be! He loves to play soccer, and is now in preschool and loves it

 

A couple weeks back Sammy developed RSV, and he struggled and never could get himself over it. Kortney and Garland took him to Dayton Childrens on November 8th 2021 to be monitored as he started to swell, and oxygen getting dangerously low. On November 10th Sammy was transported via mobile ICU to Cincinnati Childrens ICU. They were given the news that Sammys heart is functionally declining. After rounds and rounds of antibiotics and the amazing care from the doctors and nurses that look out for Sammy, he started feeling better and had him in much better spirits! We all love a good Sammy smile! On November 11th they performed a heart cath to get a better diagnosis on Sammys heart and placed a PIC line to help draw his labs without being pricked and probed continuously.

 

November 12th 2021 the heart catheter confirmed Sammy is in heart failure, and is needing a heart transplant. This process requires multiple doctor meetings with Kortney and Garland as this is an extensive evaluation process to be placed on the list. They are going through scheduled meeting to determine in which category they will place this sweet boy. They will not be able to bring Sammy home until the transplant is completed as he needs intravenous heart medication to keep his heart strong where it needs to be. He could be there for months, or years. No one can answer that until he gets his call. Once he gets his call, it is a requirement that Kortney & Garland remain no further than 40 miles from the hospital. As of now, they live over 60 miles away. Which is going to require them to have a long term stay at either a hotel, or Airbnb during his healing time.

 

 

If you know Kortney & Garland, you know that if you need them. THEY ARE THERE. If you don’t know them, know they are some of the most genuine, kind hearted, helpful, faithful people out there and my heart aches for the pain and heartbreak they are enduring at this time to make all the right decisions for their children while staying strong and positive with all life is throwing at them right now.

 

 

With this comes extensive traveling for Kortney and Garland back and forth to Cincinnati Childrens for doctors appointments, meetings and then switching off days and nights staying with Sammy all while they raise their beautiful daughter, Sophia.  Sophia can not visit or see her little brother due to Covid regulations and they now have to also navigate themselves through the holidays of not having their babies home together under one roof. Sammy won’t be home to see his Christmas lights and open his presents like every child should do. Kortney and Garland have to hold Sophia close as she’s also trying to understand what is going on.

 

I am starting this Go Fund Me in hopes we can raise enough money to take care of their Christmas and whatever is left over will be given to the family in the way they prefer.

 

I want Kortney and Garland to have the least amount of stress possible during this hard time in their lives, and as they say- it takes a village.

 

If you can’t donate, your thoughts and prayers are more than appreciated.