A touching video of 6-year-old John-Henry beaming with happiness as he announces he’s getting a new heart has captured the hearts of many online. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a rare congenital condition, John-Henry had been waiting for a life-saving heart transplant for six months.
John-Henry’s Journey with HLHS
HLHS is a condition that occurs when the left side of the heart doesn’t develop properly during pregnancy, leading to severe complications. The condition forces the right side of the heart to work extra hard, pumping blood to both the lungs and the rest of the body. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, John-Henry’s condition worsened, leading doctors to determine that a heart transplant was his only option.
A Life-Changing Moment
“I’m getting a new heart!”♥️
We won’t forget the day 6-year-old John-Henry learned a donor heart was available for him.
John-Henry had been waiting for a life-saving heart transplant for six months before he and his family received the news.
More: https://t.co/9ZdE0oBeHb pic.twitter.com/YjeAWGAbal— Cleveland Clinic Children’s (@CleClinicKids) August 27, 2024
In May 2024, after months of waiting, John-Henry and his family received the life-changing news that a donor heart was available. The Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, where John-Henry was being treated, shared the joyous moment on X (formerly Twitter). The video shows John-Henry excitedly telling everyone at the hospital, “I’m getting a new heart!”
A Mother’s Gratitude and Awareness Effort
John-Henry’s mother, Sarah Lee, shared her emotions as she broke the news to her son. “I walked in the room teary-eyed to tell John-Henry, and when I told him, he said, ‘I have to go tell everybody,'” Ms. Lee recalled. She expressed deep gratitude to the donor and their family, emphasizing the importance of organ donation. “Organ donation saved my son’s life. Without it, he wouldn’t be living right now,” she said.
Raising Awareness for Organ Donation
Ms. Lee hopes that sharing her son’s story will inspire more people to consider organ donation. “We’re going to take great care of this special heart, and we’re forever grateful to our donor and their family,” she added.
