There are two main “classes” of Congenital Heart Defects: more mild defects which sometimes require no intervention, or less invasive treatments, and Critical Congenital Heart defects. Critical defects include missing chambers, abnormal vessels, or multiple defects causing severely disrupted blood flow. Children born with critical heart defects require open-heart surgery within the first year of their lives. Sometimes emergency surgery or multiple surgeries are needed. The parents of these children are often warned that their child will never be able to participate in physical activities like their peers. That they will tire easily and need to develop interest in less intense activities. There’s always at least one that doesn’t conform to the mold. Meet Syd:

Sydney Thomas Allmond was born on September 30, 1999 at the North Mississippi Women’s Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. About 5 hours after birth, he began to have difficulties. Dr. Stuart Birnbaum, pediatric cardiologist from Memphis, Tennessee, quickly diagnosed Syd with Tricuspid Atresia and Pulmonary Atresia. We soon learned that he would need 3 surgeries. We were also told that with this condition, Syd would only be able to play golf, nothing more strenuous. At 4 days old he was airlifted to the C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan for his first surgery, the BT Shunt. No further tests were needed when he arrived because Dr. Bryan Darling, Syd’s Neonatologist, was able to communicate with the staff at C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital by Telemedicine. Syd’s second surgery, the Hemi-Fontan, was performed in April of 2000 by Dr. Bove. In July of 2001, Syd had his final surgery, the Fontan, also by Dr. Bove.

As parents, our goal has always been to let Syd live a normal life. We let him play soccer and baseball at an early age, knowing that one day he might not be able to anymore. Today Syd is a very healthy, active sixteen year old. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and sports. He continues to defy the odds. Syd plays for the high school baseball team.  He is also a north half state qualifier in swim, swimming the 50 freestyle, 100 relay, and 100 backstroke. He also runs in 5k races. Recently he had an exercise stress test performed at LeBonheur by request of his cardiologist. Syd’s scores were rated well-conditioned athlete for a normal 16 year old, despite the fact he has no tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, or right ventricle.

Talk about not letting ANYTHING hold you back! Syd has not only kept up with his peers, he has surpassed many of them athletically. He is off to a great healthy start and has laid a strong foundation for a healthy adulthood. Now that more and more children with CHD are healthy enough to live to adulthood more research is needed to know exactly how to care for them. A whole new population is emerging: Adult CHDers. There are very few cardiologists trained in the specialty of Adult CHD care. Join with us in spreading CHD Awareness and bolstering CHD funding to ensure kids like Syd will have the expert care they need to thrive into adulthood!

PROJECT HEART IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO RAISING FUNDS FOR CHD RESEARCH. HELP US CHANGE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN LIVING WITH CHD. DONATE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFT TO PROJECT HEART AND SUPPORT CHD RESEARCH HERE: HTTP://THINKPROJECTHEART.ORG/DONATE