Open Your Heart
Meet Parker Laney - Face of Heart
On October 10, 2014 Parker Thomas Laney was born at 3:00 am. At 7lbs 6 oz. he looked like any other healthy newborn. But, what you couldn't see from the outside was that Parker had a “big” VSD (ventricular septal defect). Thanks to research and technology we had prior knowledge from an ultrasound to expect his heart defect. Within 12 hours of birth, the cardiologist and neonatologist had a medical plan for Parker. His “big” hole in his heart would require open heart surgery. Our goal was to try and get Parker to 10 lbs. so that his little body could sustain surgery better, so they could go in and patch his hole. After 4 days in the NICU the doctors felt confident we could take Parker home to gain weight. 3 lbs.…no problem. Sounded easy enough, however trying to get a baby with a VSD to gain any weight became a huge accomplishment. His heart was working so hard that it was compared to him running a marathon 24 hours a day.
Finally after 4 long months he gained enough weight to schedule open heart surgery. On Feb 5 we walked into Children's of Alabama with an end in sight. Although hearing that your baby’s heart is stopped to mend the hole was almost unbearable. Several hours later the surgeon met with us to tell of Parkers successful VSD repair. His tiny little heart was mended! 1 day later I finally heard Parker cry and coo for one of the first times. Prior to surgery Parker never had the energy to do much more than exist.
Today, at 1 year old, Parker is a happy, healthy baby that will not require any more heart surgeries. And today, Parker’s cries, coos, and laughs are music to our ears. We are thankful for the American Heart Association and their work in supporting research to help save lives like Parker’s. Donations from Art for Heart enables researchers to find the lifesaving procedures that Parker received.
Now we feel it's ours and Parker’s responsibility to not only bring awareness to CHD but to help raise support for future heart patients. Thank you for supporting this wonderful cause, which increases awareness of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke by raising funds for research. Parker and his family look forward to seeing you at Art for Heart April 16, 2016.
