Little Heart Warrior

Charlie was diagnosed in utero with two congenital heart defects and would need open-heart surgery to correct them once he was born.

Charlie’s parents selected Texas Children’s experts to perform the delicate operation because of our top-ranked congenital heart surgery program. And two weeks after Charlie was born, Texas Children’s Kangaroo Crew flew him to our hospital to begin treatment.

Photo of Charlie

Unfortunately, Charlie suffered a blood infection, and blood-flow complications had to be addressed before his surgery could begin.

Months later, after two corrective procedures, Charlie was healthy enough to undergo his long-awaited heart surgery. Following an almost 13-hour operation, Charlie experienced his first full day with a healthy heart on Valentine’s Day.

Today, Charlie is a happy, energetic one-and-a-half-year-old little boy. He has a big personality and is learning how to walk and talk. “To meet him, you would never know he had a heart defect when he was born,” his father, Roger, said. “Charlie is a little heart warrior with a second chance in life.”

“We credit and think about Texas Children’s every day we wake up and see Charlie. If not for the efforts of every person there we came into contact with, he would not be with us,” said Roger.

“When it comes to your child, you’re going to do anything and everything you can to give your son or daughter the best possible chance to live and to have a full life,” Roger continued. “To me, Texas Children’s is not just a game changer, it’s a life changer.”