John Willoughby
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
At just eight days old, Leland Summers had his first open-heart surgery. His second operation came two and a half years later and he hasn't had to go under since then. However, at the beginning of August, 12-year-old Leland will travel to Gainesville where he will have his third open-heart surgery.
With an expected recovery process of one to two weeks, mom, Stephanie; and step-dad, Marco, will be living in a hotel for the time, but with the help of Stephanie's mother and step-father, Carmen and Roger, she wants to help repay them for the goodness she's been provided with.
On Friday, July 17, Stephanie took to Facebook to begin raising money in an effort to do just that. With a goal of $1,000, Stephanie has already reached $850 from 15 donors. "We will be living out of a hotel room for about a week and that adds up quickly," she posted. "My generous mom and step-dad are flipping the bill for our hotel stay and food/travel expenses during the time … I'm just grateful for all of my family and friends coming together for my son in his greatest time of need."
Born with four heart defects, anyone's chances of being born with what Leland has are extremely slim; it was figured that the chances could be 1/16,000,000,000. An October 2007 baby, Leland now lives with an atrial septal defect, ventricle septal defect, transposition of the great arteries and dual-outlet left ventricle defect, which he says doesn't really make him feel any different.
After a preeclamptic pregnancy, Leland was born at Florida Heartland Hospital of Sebring after a 38-week prenatal period. But, the defects weren't known until he was already born. Leland's oxygen levels were low at birth, but nurses stated it was due to magnesium sulfate given to his mother, Stephanie, due to blood pressure issues related to the preeclampsia. The pediatrician arrived for a check up and discovered a murmur, which they thought was normal. But after Leland was calmed from crying, the pediatrician heard other sounds that weren't supposed to be there.
"Once they did a couple of tests at Sebring and they saw the need for a cardiac specialist, it happened very quickly – I'd say within two hours," said Stephanie. "They had intubated him and put him in the incubator, and left via ambulance to Orlando. They were going to fly him, but I remember the weather was bad."
Leland's first surgery was at eight days old in November of 2007 when he experienced his first surgery at St. Joseph's Childrens Hospital in Tampa. A cryogenic valve, from a pig, was placed into his heart to ease complications of the defect. As he grew out of the shrunken valve, however, he began showing fatigue and little activity, making way for his second heart surgery in July of 2010, when a teflon valve replaced the first cryogenic valve. A Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve will be placed in Leland's heart during his Gainesville operation in August.
To donate to Stephanie's family fundraiser, visit Stephanie's personal Facebook profile at www.facebook.com/stbMrsHernandez. You may also CashApp donated funds to $StephMarco. Shirts may be made available soon, that don the words "#Leland2020." Shirts will be made in white or black and will be $12 per shirt. To order yours, message Stephanie directly through her Facebook profile. "Thank you in advance for anything and everything!" she added. "I really appreciate you all! Prayers accepted and appreciated as well!"