When David arrived at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in December 2022, he carried with him more than just his beloved Cookie Monster stuffed animal. At just two years old, he also carried the weight of a failing heart. Born with

hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) — a severe congenital defect in which the left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped — David’s oxygen levels were dropping dangerously low. His lips and skin had turned pale blue, echoing the color of his favorite snuggle buddy.

By then, David’s journey had already taken his family through multiple hospitals across the country. Early surgeries to rehabilitate his tiny left ventricle hadn’t brought the lasting improvement his parents hoped for. A catheter procedure to restore heart function also failed to halt the decline. His mother, Amanda, recalls the devastating reality:“His whole life, we’ve been trying to get the best care for him with the best outcome. The team at Children’s didn’t say it would be easy. They didn’t say it would work. But they were willing to try.”

That willingness mattered. St. Louis Children’s and WashU Medicine’s pediatric heart transplant program, one of the largest and most experienced in the country, became the family’s lifeline.

The Wait for a Heart

Ironically, a stomach bug gave David his chance. The virus landed him in the hospital, hooked up to continuous monitoring. It was then that doctors saw his oxygen saturation dropping to dangerous levels, even though he looked outwardly fine. The team urged his family to place him on the transplant wait list.

For almost four months, David lived at the hospital under 24-hour watch. His care team included transplant surgeon Jacob Miller, MD, as well as cardiologists, therapists, and nutritionists who worked daily to keep his little body strong enough to handle the surgery once a heart became available.

Hospital life for David found its own rhythm. His daily reward after painful procedures was a walk through the heart center, Cookie Monster in tow. “He would light up the hallways,” Amanda said. “Everyone at the hospital engaged with him. They were so friendly and silly with him. They tried to make it as positive an experience as it could be.”

A New Heart

The call finally came: there was a heart for David. His family had been prepared for the moment, but nothing could compare to seeing him afterward.

Walking into the recovery room, Amanda froze.“He wasn’t blue anymore,” she said softly. “I didn’t realize how blue he had been until he wasn’t.”

The transplant surgery was complex, especially since David had undergone multiple previous operations. “His anatomy was unique, which made reconstruction more challenging,” Dr. Miller explained. “But he did incredibly well. He’s an awesome little kid.”

Remarkably, David’s recovery surpassed every expectation. Dr. Miller had told the family he would be happy if David was walking within two weeks. Instead, David’s breathing tube came out the very next day. He was discharged onday 15.

Amanda remembers the relief: “We were prepared to be in the hospital for months after his transplant surgery. It was amazing. Dr. Miller came to check on him every day. To see him checking up on David — and on us as parents — it meant so much. It made us feel important.”

Life After Transplant

The first year after surgery was intense. David had nearly 100 appointments, from blood work to feeding therapy. But slowly, life began to resemble something normal.

This past March, David turned 5. In April, the family celebrated the second anniversary of his transplant with cake and a special dinner of his choosing. Today, he loves trucks, Blues Clues, and Snoopy — the joys of an ordinary 5-year-old. Cookie Monster still sits in his bed, though David often swaps favorites, rotating between a tiger named Stripes and a cat named Pandy.

When he remembers his hospital days, David doesn’t focus on pain or fear. Instead, he recalls them fondly, calling it “the overnight doctor.” He remembers the games, the walks, even the rubber ducks from sponge baths — proof of how the team at St. Louis Children’s transformed a terrifying time into something survivable, even memorable.

Looking back, Amanda reflects with gratitude and awe: “I think this worked out the best way it possibly could have. It was the hardest and best thing. Failure was not an option, so we just kept going.”

David’s story is one of science and skill, but also of resilience, love, and a little boy’s spirit that never gave up. Today, thanks to a donor family’s gift and a team’s relentless dedication, his heart beats strong — a reminder that miracles often come stitched together from courage, compassion, and hope.