Alex was born on New Year's Day, a very beautiful baby boy. At less than one day old he was diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and an ASD. Our lives were forever changed. He was transferred to the University of Michigan and had his first open heart surgery at 8 days old. There were a few bumps along the road, but after four weeks our baby came home. We were so happy and excited to have our family home together, having an older child as well. We were also scared - he was still was on oxygen, tube feedings, continuous monitoring, and a never-ending medication schedule.

Only one week after coming home, Alex started having more trouble breathing and we had to take him back to the hospital. They found that his left pulmonary artery was totally closed. The following morning, on Valentine's Day, Alex had his second open heart surgery. His recovery was slow, and ended up needing yet another surgery to repair his diaphragm. After another 5 weeks we were able to bring our baby home again, still on oxygen and tube feedings.

Alex continued to have problems with his pulmonary arteries, particularly the left. It wasn't long before we met Dr. Lock at Children's Hospital Boston, whose specialty is dilating pulmonary arteries. Dr. Lock has performed four caths on Alex with extensive dilations and also placed two stents. The right side is greatly improved - which allowed him to come off of oxygen at eight months old. The left side still has very minimal flow, and he functions quite well off of one lung.

At 18 months old, Alex had his third open heart surgery. This was to replace his conduit (pulmonary valve) and partially close his ASD. Thankfully this surgery went smoothly and he came home within two weeks. Unfortunately, the conduit does not grow with him - so he will need future open heart surgeries to replace this as he gets bigger. This is the part that was probably the hardest for us - that our son faces a lifetime of surgeries - that the Drs can't just "fix" him. It's a good thing that God made Alex so brave and strong.

Alex is now 3 ½ years old, and is truly an amazing little boy with his own personality. He loves gymnastics, playing baseball, riding his bike, and especially hanging out with his big brother Noah (7). To see him smile, to hear him laugh and sing, to watch him pedal his bike oh so fast; we're so very blessed - and thank God for each and every day.

- Rob & Heather, Alex's Parents (Northwest Ohio)