Each year, 40,000 US children are born with a congenital heart defect. While the type of defect and its severity can vary from person to person, each family must cope with the anxiety, the pain and the unknown. This year, one of those families was that of Matt Hammitt, the lead singer of Sanctus Real. His son Bowen was born on September 9, 2010 with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. The left side of his heart was severely underdeveloped and blood was not pumping correctly to his body.
Bowen underwent his first open heart surgery just a few days after birth. Then, the next day he suffered cardiac arrest and his parents thought they had lost him. He pulled through, but was put on life support. Over the next few weeks he improved, but suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with hyperinsulinism as well.
Since then, Bowen has inspired both his father and the rest of the world with his ability to fight. Matt Hammitt has written songs about the family’s experiences and the family is starting a foundation to help other families who are facing a CHD diagnosis. Matt’s blog about Bowen’s story has touched the hearts of all who read it.
After months in the hospital, Bowen went home in time for Thanksgiving, joining his two older sisters. His next surgery is scheduled for February of 2011. After that he will need third surgery at age 2 or 3 and another one as a young adult.
While the jury is still out on what causes CHD, some studies are linking heart defects to certain illnesses in the mother and certain medications as well. Other studies have found that genetic gene mutations play a part. But no matter what the reason for a child developing a CHD, the good news is that advances in diagnosis and surgical treatment have led to an increase in survival for children born with a CHD. Many cases are diagnosed before birth allowing parents and doctors to prepare for the child’s arrival. In the 1950s, only 1/10th of every 15,000 children with heart defects lived to age 18. In the 1990s however, the survival rate reached 70%. Good news for Bowen and the other 40,000 kids affected by a CHD each year.