When Kyler was 5-years-old, life as he (and his family) knew it was about to change. He was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and would need a heart transplant to survive.
“He did literally die. His heart stopped beating. So when that happens everything stops,” said Kati Robinson, Pediatric Heart Transplant Coordinator at Levine Children’s Hospital.
After his diagnosis his heart stopped another three times.
“We went ahead and told him that his heart was sick and that he might have to have a new heart,” said Shaun, Kyler’s dad.
The team at Levine Children’s Hospital put Kyler on the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) list for a heart transplant.
“We were on the list a year and three months when we got the call,” says Alisha, Kyler’s mom.
Hours after the call, Kyler had his new heart. Kyler is now a happy and energetic 9-year-old.
“Life now is better. I can run a whole lot farther. If I have kids with the same problem I will take them to Levine Children’s Hospital,” said Kyler.
