“Oliver Gray Hybert was born at home on February 22, 2021. Ollie weighed in at 8lbs 8oz and by all appearances was a happy and healthy baby. During a routine check with our midwife
on February 25th
(his sister's birthday), Ollie's oxygen saturations were low and it was recommended that we take him to the ER. After being transferred from the ER to Colorado Springs Children's Hospital, Ollie's nurse indicated that she heard a heart murmur on his intake evaluation, and recommended an echocardiogram in the morning. We had no idea how that echo would change our lives. As we watched the echo performed, we knew something wasn't quite right (mom's heart rate alarm went off on her Apple Watch, which has never happened before), and we were shortly informed that Oliver had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), and we were quickly moved from the floor to the NICU. A few short days later, Ollie was transferred by ambulance to Children's in Aurora and had his Norwood procedure on March 3rd. During his hospitalization, Ollie initially struggled with extubation, but once in the CPCU was interested in eating and seemed to progress well. His g-tube placement surgery turned out not to be quite as routine as expected after his breathing tube clogged two different times. A few short days after his g-tube placement, Ollie had a catheterization to measure pressures in his heart and lungs, and to place a stent in his Sano shunt which was already showing some narrowing. On April 27th, we brought Ollie home. His older brother Liam (5) and older sister Aria (3) were delighted to be reunited with their brother. We got to love on Ollie and fall into a routine at home for a month before he started showing low oxygenation saturations again
on May 29th
(his grandfather's birthday - we joked that Ollie apparently doesn't like other people's birthdays!). Once again we ended up at Children's in Aurora where Ollie had his Glenn procedure after another catheterization. This time Ollie was in the hospital for only 17 days before getting to go home
on June 14th.
Today, Ollie is a very smiley little boy who is absolutely adored by his family (and sometimes smothered with love by his older siblings who cannot get enough of him). He is working with PT/OT/Speech therapies to help catch up on milestones, but is quickly becoming a very "busy" boy trying to keep up with his siblings. This year, Ollie hit a HUGE milestone when he started preschool! Ollie has changed our lives in many ways, and is certainly an inspiration to our family. OIlie will have his third stage surgery this summer."