Sam

Eleven-year-old Sam of Tweed Heads doesn’t let his heart problems get in the way of his happiness, even though he has been undergoing heart surgeries since he was six-weeks-old. His most recent surgery at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in January has made him, as his mum Natalie says, the “proud owner” of a brand new pacemaker.

Natalie was 32 weeks pregnant with Sam when her local GP noticed the enlarged heart on an ultrasound. When he was born, Sam was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect (a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart) and two defects on the right side of his heart, in the pulmonary valve and the tricuspid valve.

The diagnoses and treatments felt overwhelming for Natalie to try and grasp so early on in her new baby’s life.

“To hear that your son has a heart condition that’s not easily fixed with a simple tablet, but large in-depth operations, is really hard to understand. To be told your son will be put on life support is just unfathomable.”

Since his first surgery at six weeks of age, Sam has had three more open heart surgeries and two catheterisations, a procedure used to diagnose and treat heart conditions. In spite of everything he has had to overcome, Sam stays energetic and positive, and is looking forward to being school captain this year.

His heart problems have not stopped him from enjoying an active life outdoors, regularly participating in basketball, running, surfing and snorkelling with his friends and older brother, Jack. Natalie has worked hard to keep the family close and well supported throughout Sam’s health journey. “I think sometimes the sibling who is not sick tends to get left out a little,” she says, “and that’s something I try to make an effort to be aware of.”

Sam loves learning about Greek gods and superheroes, and has shown a lot of bravery himself in coming through all of his challenges still smiling. His advice to other kids who might be going through something scary, like major surgery, is that ‘it’s ok to be afraid; just know that when you wake up, you’ll be on your way to better health’.

When he’s feeling sad or scared about surgeries, he finds something funny to watch or read about, to help take his mind off it, and he always looks forward to that first meal after fasting!

Sam will likely need a few more surgeries in future, to replace temporary heart valves, but his doctors say he can expect to lead an independent, active and productive life.

February is Childhood Heart Disease (CHD) Awareness Month which recognises the eight children born with a heart condition every day in Australia.