For a little boy who has a new heart after spending more than a year at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, American Heart Month, celebrated in February, has special meaning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kolin was born at CHOP with a heart defect and became a beloved patient at the cardiac center. Now he’s only there for brief visits after a life-saving transplant.<\/p>\n
Kolin spent 530 days at CHOP being treated for complicated congenital heart defects. Nettle, a facility dog, was an important distraction and comfort for Kolin and his family during that time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kolin’s mom, Joy Hummer, said he faced a variety of difficult complications, and ultimately, he needed a heart transplant.<\/p>\n
“There was a period of time that he wasn’t even eligible for a heart transplant because he was so sick,” Joy Hummer said. “And those were some of the hardest days of my life.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kolin ended up with a mechanical heart waiting for a transplant and was kept busy at the hospital until the new heart was found in October.<\/p>\n
Three months after the transplant, his doctors are thrilled to see how well Kolin is doing.<\/p>\n
“It’s just an incredibly heartwarming and validating thing to see,” Dr. Matthew O’Connor at CHOP said. “We were very optimistic for lots of good news for him in the future.”<\/p>\n
After spending 18 months at the hospital, Kolin’s mom says visiting CHOP now is like being at her home away from home.<\/p>\n
“You know, child life, the nurses, the staff, just become part of your family,” she said.<\/p>\n
When Kolin was finally ready to leave the cardiac center, they had a parade to send him off.<\/p>\n
Now adjusting to life with his new heart, Kolin is focused on school and his passion, cooking. He wants to be a chef when he grows up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kolin takes anti-rejection drugs to live with his new heart, and his mom says she’s eternally grateful to the donor family.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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