Breathe deeply, little Braveheart
Ethan turned nine months old this week and a lump on his chest is a constant reminder of the tumour in his heart.
In spite of the odds stacked against him and the uncertainty of what the next step may be, Ethan Jay Smith is soldiering on, fighting the battle against a now 5,6 x 6,1 cm fibroid tumour in his heart.
The Highvelder (5 February 2016) first introduced Ethan, who was barely a month old when he underwent his first open heart surgery, to its readers.
Born with a 3,9 x 4,59 cm tumour growing in his heart, he also had by-pass surgery so that his heart could function on one ventricle.
A month ago, after being on oxygen 24 hours a day, doctors inserted a bigger shunt in order to allow direct oxygen to his brain.
The bigger plan, barring any complications, is to insert a bigger shunt if necessary when he turns four.
And once Ethan reaches adulthood, with the hope that the tumour does not grow, doctors can reverse the bypass to regain full heart function.
In the meantime, the tumour will be monitored every two months.
Ethan turned nine months old this week and a lump on his chest is a constant reminder of the tumour in his heart.
He is, however, really doing well at the moment and has developed quite an appetite, crying when he is hungry and not because he is battling to breathe and fighting to stay alive.
It has been an emotional and financial battle for his parents, Christelle and Yevette Smith, who pray for complete healing every day.
Unprepared for such an ordeal and feeling that their whole world had crashed, they fought with Ethan every step of the way through the power of prayer and with the support of family and friends,
For now they are taking every day as it comes, enjoying each little milestone Ethan reaches and appreciating the miracle that their little boy with the brave heart is alive.
