Baby John’s return home to P.E.I. after heart transplant a Christmas miracle, says his mom

A Summerside household says having their child boy again house with them is nothing wanting a Christmas miracle.

John, the son of Chad and Kali Dawson, was recognized with extreme coronary heart failure when he was one yr outdated.

A coronary heart illness known as dilated cardiomyopathy induced his coronary heart chambers to skinny and stretch, rising as massive as an adolescent’s coronary heart.

John underwent a coronary heart transplant in Toronto this fall, and this week — after spending a yr in hospitals in Summerside, Halifax and Toronto — the toddler and his household returned house.

Island Morning10:52Toddler returns house after coronary heart transplant

A P.E.I. household is again house after a yr away at numerous hospitals.

‘We have been immersed in hospital life for therefore lengthy’

“I am unable to even describe what it was like. We have by no means ever been so completely happy and overwhelmed,” stated John’s mom Kali Dawson.

Infant baby sleeping in bed, lying next to a sign that says "I'm going home" — The Dawson household rejoice information that they have been in a position to depart a hospital in Toronto and return to their Summerside house. (Submitted by Kali Dawson)

“However then, additionally scared too, as a result of we have been nervous. I imply, we have been immersed in hospital life for therefore lengthy, it is also very arduous to step away from that and say, OK, now we’re doing this, we’re doing every thing on our personal.”

The Dawsons spent almost a yr in hospitals ready, hoping and praying for a coronary heart.

And that got here with its highs and lows.

Just like the first time they have been instructed there was a coronary heart for John — information that was sadly met with info that surgeons have been unable to retrieve the guts.

“It was devastating,” stated Kali Dawson. “After months and months and months of ready.”

‘They began to sedate him in our arms’

Dawson stated they’d been by a lot by that point, they turned their focus to the following time.

It took a number of extra months earlier than they acquired a second name, however they did not imagine it was actual.

This time, it was.

John was going to get his coronary heart.

Infant baby lies in a hospital bed, hooked up to several machines. — Child John lies in a hospital mattress hooked as much as a number of machines following his coronary heart transplant in a Toronto hospital. (Submitted by Kali Dawson)

“I do not assume we even believed it till we took him down, they began to sedate him in our arms so he would not be scared,” stated Dawson.

“My husband and I stated again and again, ‘How are we going to let somebody take him and take his coronary heart out of his physique? How are we going to do this?’ You already know, it was simply unimaginable,” she stated.

“However we did it and he did it. He is the strongest little man that we have ever seen. And we now have a tough time complaining about something as a result of we noticed what he went by this previous yr.”

‘I believed I used to be dreaming’

4 hours after he went in, transplant surgeons instructed them the surgical procedure went “higher than anticipated,” she stated, and that John was going to be OK.

Mother poses with son, both faces smiling — ‘He is the strongest little man that we have ever seen,’ says Kali Dawson of her son, John. (Submitted by Kali Dawson)

“I believed I used to be dreaming.”

Inside days, they’d John up and strolling round.

The Dawsons spent one other two-and-a-half months in Toronto for follow-up care earlier than getting the phrase that they might be capable to return house to P.E.I. for Christmas.

Dawson stated she was in shock.

“We by no means actually knew if we might go house, after we would go house, if we might go house altogether,” stated Dawson. “I am unable to actually describe what it was like.”

Summerside police and hearth officers offered a police escort for the household to their house, as a manner of welcoming John and the household again to P.E.I.

‘We’re ceaselessly grateful’

Dawson stated she’s so grateful for all of the help they’ve acquired from household, buddies and folks throughout P.E.I. who’ve adopted their journey on a Fb web page she set as much as doc their expertise.

Three children decorate a Christmas tree, with the lights of the tree illuminating in the room. — One of many first orders of enterprise after returning house to P.E.I. was to brighten the Christmas tree. John Dawson, centre, helps his huge brother, Charles, and sister, Rosemary. (Submitted by Kali Dawson)

“We acquired a lot help. It is superb. We’re ceaselessly grateful. We’re so proud to be from P.E.I.”

Dawson stated her son is again to being a daily toddler, enjoying along with his huge brother, Charles, and sister, Rosemary. They adorned their Christmas tree this week.

“We have been fearful that each transition was going to be so arduous for him,” stated Dawson.

“Seems he simply took every thing in stride. He is been house for 72 hours, he is by no means slept so good, he is been sleeping by the evening and he is by no means — on this previous yr — actually slept by the evening.”

Family of five pose for a photo, including Dad, Mom, and three children. They are all wearing t-shirts, Athena Hawks, the name of the children's school sports team. — Child John along with his mother and pa, Chad and Kali Dawson, and massive brother, Charles, 8, and sister, Rosemary, 5. (Submitted by Kali Dawson)

Dawson stated she is aware of there will probably be extra appointments in Toronto, with extra medical doctors’ visits and extra assessments — however for now, she’s completely happy to be house with all her household.

“We won’t imagine he is house for Christmas,” she stated.

“He is a Christmas miracle for certain, for certain.”

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