'Each Day Is Truly a Blessing,' Says Mom of Baby Who Had Successful Heart-Lung Transplant

Michael Foust : Aug 10, 2018
Christian Headlines

"His firsts mean so much in multiple ways. He wasn't even supposed to be here. So each day is truly a blessing. Getting to hear him cry, getting to hold him, to give him a bath, every day is just a blessing. And we don't know how many days we'll have with Jack..." -Tiffany Palmer, Jack's mom

[ChristianHeadlines.com] A Kansas City mom and dad who saw their 5-month-old son survive a rare lung-and-heart transplant say they hope their story encourages other families. (Photo: Jack/Facebook-Tiffany Palmer/via Christian Headlines)

"Don't give up," the mom, Tiffany Palmer, told The Today Show.

The story began even before the baby—named "Jack"—was born. At 20 weeks of Tiffany's pregnancy, an ultrasound revealed devastating news: Their unborn baby had a major heart defect that would kill him if nothing was done.

"We were just devastated, crushed, hopeless," Tiffany told Today. "Instead of planning to bring home a new baby like we were hoping, we were feeling [as if] we had to plan a funeral."

Desperate, Tiffany and her husband, Chuck, began searching for hospitals that might be able to help. Doctors at St. Louis Children's Hospital provided hope. He was born on Jan. 16, sick and needing life support just to stay alive.

Almost immediately, they had to make a decision: Wait for a transplant—which could require a long wait—or withdraw life support, Today reported.

"His brain was perfect. His other organs were perfect. There was nothing else wrong with him but his heart and lungs," Tiffany said. "We felt like withdrawing care would be inhumane."

She added, "We knew it would be a very long tedious road and that Jack may not even survive to transplant"...

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