CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- It sounds unimaginable. “It was our eighteen week ultrasound when they saw his heart was smaller on the right side," says parent Adrienne Mauntel.
She was pregnant and hearing for the first time her now three-year-old son had a congenital heart defect.
“It was absolutely terrifying. You learn a lot…and we just decided he was gonna be great,” said Mauntel.
Grant had a heart transplant at six weeks.
“I had 14 or 15 surgeries,” the second grader told NewsChannel 36.
Jacob had open heart surgery at thirteen.
“I have a stint metal tube in my heart keeps valve open,” he said.
His mom got the diagnosis when Jacob was just an infant.
Kim Jackson said, “It was hard. I was scared and I didn't know anyone else that had a child that had a congenital heart defect.”
She does now.
The kids are all friends.
The parents are each others lifeline.
They are all together this day at an art show, aptly called “Works of Heart.”
Two local artists, Anne Nielsen and Heidi Kirshner, donating their sought after work so this group can raise money.
The parents created “The Levine Cardiac Kids,” a support group.
The group’s fundraising director, Mauntel said, “You learn so much from doctors but until you talk to another parent who’s living this life every day, you really don’t know what to expect.”
There are more than 160 Charlotte area families in the group.
Most of the kids are now friends thanks to thanks to Camp Luck, a camp the group created so their kids, heart transplants and all, can be kids.
“When you first get the diagnosis you can’t help but cry and then you’re so thankful to find like people and know that your child is going to live an okay life... it’s just amazing,” said Mauntel.
