Braidwood family deals with heart defect
by Hank Brockett
9/25/02
For the moment, his bulging eyes are transfixed on the way the late afternoon sun shines off a metallic clock. Soon, though, his attention shifts back to his baby bottle.
His parents seldom take their eyes off the three-month-old. It’s an affliction common to new parents the world over.
Despite the worried eyes, or maybe because of them, Tyler puts on a show. He’s one of the happiest babies you’ll find, and in this case that’s of utmost importance.
Because there’s a chance that if Tyler cries, he could die.
Dave and Kellie Roberts know this, and by this point they’re almost used to spotting potential irritants. In keeping Tyler smiling, they deal with the daily reminders of a son with a congenital heart defect.
All mixed up
Dave Roberts knows more than he probably ever wanted to know about the inner workings of the human body. After three months of doctor consultations, he can rattle off all of his young son’s peculiarities.
Tyler’s heart only has two chambers, instead of four.
Tyler doesn’t have a spleen.
Tyler’s stomach is on the right side instead of the left.
Tyler’s liver is in the middle, instead of the right.
Tyler looks to have a pair of right lungs instead of a right and a left.
All these details bring a smile to Dave’s face.
“It’s kind of neat how he’s built,” he comments.
The lungs, liver and stomach won’t be a concern for Tyler. Despite the jumble, the organs should function normally.
Lacking a spleen presents more of a problem. Tyler’s immune system is weakened, so he’ll take antibiotics most of his life. His mother now must wash her hands before handling him, all the while guarding against touchy-feely strangers entranced by Tyler’s charm.
The heart condition - technically referred to as double outlet right ventricle (DORV) with pulmonary stenosis - will require two surgeries. Right now, unoxygenated and oxygenated blood are mixing within the heart. Some of that unoxygenated blood then is pumped throughout the body, lowering his oxygen level.
Which brings us back to his tears. The emotional state most parents loathe creates outright fear in Dave and Kellie, because when we cry, less oxygen comes into the body. That small deficiency in air would be enough to turn Tyler’s pale skin blue.
“He’s a very happy little baby, thank God,” said Dave. “He doesn’t cry much. It makes our job a lot easier.”
The secret to Tyler’s happiness lies in a simple one-word answer.
“Mommy,” said Kellie as Tyler gurgled with approval. “Spoiled is a good word for it.”
‘Nothing at all’
The young parents couldn’t have had a better pregnancy. Dave jokes now that the only problem was extended morning sickness, a comment that provokes a sigh and a smile from Kellie.
“Nothing went wrong with the pregnancy, nothing at all,” said Kellie.
The day Tyler was born, a Thursday, a pediatrician came in and told the couple their newborn had a couple of heart murmurs that could be cause for alarm. The next day, a cardiologist from Loyola Medical Center came down for a closer look in the afternoon.
By 9 p.m. that evening, Tyler found himself in a helicopter on his way to Loyola. His parents followed by car close behind.
“That Thursday was the best day of my entire life,” said Kellie. “And then that Friday was the worst.”
The March of Dimes says some sort of congenital heart defect affects one in 150 births. In this case, Dave said doctors have told him about one in 10,000 kids have a defect similar to Tyler’s.
“Doctors don’t know the cause of this,” said Dave. “It’s just one of those things they can’t explain.”
Although doctors do not know the exact causes, some have considered genetics and environment as two potential factors. To what extent is still unknown.
A strong heart
Tyler will undergo two surgeries before the age of three. At first, doctors put the number of surgeries at three, but good progress and a normal growth pattern eliminated the need for an emergency first surgery.
The surgeries actually won’t deal with Tyler’s heart at all. Doctors will create new arteries and re-route the blood flow to create a normal oxygen level. Tyler’s blood will go to the lungs to pick up oxygen and then his heart will pump out the healthy blood.
“It’s hard for us, putting him through it,” said Dave. “But we know it has to be done.”
Tyler won’t remember any of this as he grows older. A small scar and the daily precautions will be all that remain from his ordeal.
Doctors say he’ll have to visit a cardiologist every six months. Later in life, Tyler may need a Pacemaker. He’ll never be a marathon runner, but he will be able to run.
And don’t count on Tyler joining the Reed-Custer football team in 15 years, although his parents don’t mind too much.
“He’ll be a golf player instead,” said Kellie. “We’re golf people anyways.”
Although the reminders may be scarce, the parents won’t soon forget how the community has helped them through their trying times. With the couple facing the financial burden of two expensive surgeries, a variety of sources have helped pick up some of the future costs.
“We haven’t even talked price,” said Kellie. “We just want to get through it and then talk price.”
A pancake breakfast, a split-the-pot raffle and donation canisters throughout the area will help aid the family. And both Dave, who works for the Channahon Park District, and Kellie, who works for Morris Hospital, said their employers have shown kindness as they care for Tyler.
“A whole community has come together,” said Dave.
“And thank you is not even enough,” added Kellie.
Deposits still can be made to the Tyler Roberts Fund at Kankakee Federal Savings Bank to help defray some of the future costs.
But Tyler doesn’t worry about any of this as he squirms in his mother’s arms. To him, there’s not a care in the world ... and nothing worth crying about.