HYPOPLASTIC HEART
His mother knew her son would have issues with his heart before he was even born. During an ultrasound doctors discovered the left side of his heart was not fully developing. Doctors diagnosed her unborn baby as having a hypoplastic left heart. Oxygen and blood was not reaching where it needed to in his body.

A LEARNING JOURNEY
He underwent his first of two open-heart surgeries within days of being born. He stayed at Children’s Care for two months after his second surgery. Children’s Care staff helped the family learn how to care for Miguel and meet his needs once he was able to go home. “Children’s Care gave us the knowledge and skills we needed as his parents and family to help him heal and thrive,” said his mother. Children’s Care has a family apartment in the residential facility so parents and siblings can be close to their children and learn at all hours of the day or night how to meet the needs of a child recovering from an accident or surgery. Family stays are typically a few days up to a week at a time.

He needs a ventilator to help him breath. He has a heater to help regulate his temperature and a feeding tube to help him get the nutrients he needs. His medical needs have caused some delays in his development of skills such as walking, picking up small objects, and talking. Children’s Care helped the family know how to work with the equipment and meet their son’s physical and developmental needs.

INDEPENDENCE
He is now an energetic 1½ year old who is learning how to stand on his own despite all the assistive equipment that accompanies him everywhere he goes. He loves to be the center of attention and to be where people are. Through weekly physical, occupational, and speech therapy visits in his home he is learning new skills. He is starting to say, “Mom, Dad, and No.” He is strengthening his muscles so he can stand independently.

Independence is a huge accomplishment for any toddler. For a child with special needs it is a hard won success. “We have the same dreams for him as we have for our other kids – that he will be able to go out and be independent. Children’s Care is helping us get there,” said his mom.

Last summer Children’s Care Rehabilitation Medical Supply created a new stroller wheelchair that was adapted so all of his assistive equipment could accompany him anywhere. It also collapses small enough to fit in the trunk of the family’s car. His mother was nearly in tears and the smile that lit up Miguel’s face reflected his excitement. She commented, “He loved it! He knew, “I’m going places now!” The adapted stroller meant freedom for him and his family.

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