DURHAM — Do you believe in miracles? The Soderblom family definitely does.
On Thursday afternoon (Thanksgiving Day), Lorna Soderblom announced on Facebook that her newborn son (Kix Duncan Soderblom) will receive the world’s second partial heart transplant.
“It blows my mind how He works and how He allowed us to be told on Thanksgiving that (Kix’s) surgery was happening,” Lorna said, referencing her faith in God. “It’s truly amazing how He has lined all of this up for us.”
Kix, the son of Lorna and Zack Soderblom of Monroe, is the first baby to receive this rare surgery since Owen Monroe (Leland, N.C.) received the transplant in April at Duke University Hospital. Kix went in for the transplant surgery on Friday (Nov. 25) at 7 a.m.
The journey for the Soderblom family was rocky. When doctors told the family Kix had a heart condition, their world turned upside down. They were in shock, but they leaned on Jesus during the rollercoaster.
“So many people were praying, as were we,” Lorna said. “Truly, in the hardest moments, surrendering it to Christ was all we could do. In return, that gave us peace only he can provide. It gave us rest.”
During one of their echos, it turned out to be a Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), which is a “is a rare condition caused by a combination of four heart defects that are present at birth (congenital),” according to mayoclinic.org.
Kix was born on Nov. 9, and doctors were able to see his heart from a better angle. They ultimately changed the TOF diagnosis to truncus arteriosus. According to medlineplus.gov, a truncus arteriosus is a heart disease that involves a blood vessel coming out of the right and left ventricles.
In the end, doctors also told the Soderbloms that surgery for truncus would not work for Kix.
Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Joseph Turek, and his team will attempt to place the valves and parts of the heart that Kix needs instead of using a whole heart.
At the same time, Lorna and Zack gave their burden to Jesus, and it became a strength for them. They also knew that feeling at peace would help them stray away from any negative thoughts of losing Kix.
“My mom always reminds me that our children are not our own and that we as Christians belong to our Heavenly Father before belonging to us,” Lorna said. “Of course, thoughts of losing him run through our heads, and it makes us sad at times, but the Lord has covered our hearts, and we feel so at peace. … It’s an incredibly beautiful feeling.”
Kix was named after the country singer and Brooks & Dunn band member Kix Brooks. His older brother, Waylon, was named after the late Waylon Jennings. Obviously Lorna and Zack love country music.
During Owen’s surgery, doctors equipped one of his vessels with a leaky valve, which made it unlikely for him “to survive the wait for a full heart transplant,” according to corporate.dukehealth.org.
Lorna has been in touch with Owen’s mother (Tayler Monroe) during his surgery, but they never met in person.
For Kix, Turek and his team kept him as calm as possible with all the tests they ran after his birth. Lorna said the team was their saving grace throughout their stay at Duke Hospital.
“Of all the hospitals in the world, how everything happened, the Lord has had this plan all along,” Lorna said. “The staff of nurses are all so amazing. They put their hearts into caring for these babies. ... The surgeons are truly doing the Lord’s work and have gifts only God can give.”
Until doctors say the partial heart transplant would be successful, Lorna and Zack are praying that a similar outcome would happen in Kix’s favor. They also look forward to bringing Kix back home to Monroe and enjoying their first Christmas as a family.
“(We are) praying that Kix has the same outcome and both these sweet boys can grow and live happy lives with less surgeries and that their valves continue to grow with their hearts,” Lorna said.
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