by Joe Kirkpatrick

The day little Ben Coulter was born, the doctor informed his parents, Karin and Brad, that he detected a slight heart murmur, but it was not that uncommon, and many times would clear up in a day or two.  The next day, while Brad had left the hospital to take some flowers home, the doctor came in and told Karin he needed to talk to her.  From the expression on his face, she knew something was wrong.  Terrified, she asked him to wait until her husband returned, but he told her what he needed to talk to her about would not wait.  He told her he had checked Ben further, and there was now a significant heart murmur.  He said he had already contacted Children's Hospital, and Ben needed to be taken there as soon as possible.  Karin said the doctor continued to talk, but she was in a fog, and really has no idea what else he said.
 
Close your eyes and think about it:  Your first child is only two days old, and you have just been informed your baby may have a serious heart defect.  Think of the despair you would feel!

Karin and Brad took little Ben on to Children's Hospital, where it was determined almost immediately Ben had serious heart defects, and would need Surgery.  Karin said after the diagnosis, there seemed to never be any good news.  They made weekly visits to their pediatrician, and when Ben was only two weeks old, they were told Ben had  congestive heart failure.  At two

months, he quit gaining weight, and it was determined the surgery he needed had to be done soon.  Karin and Brad spent hours researching Ben's condition on the internet, and found Dr. Ed Bove' at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor had the best reputation for success on the particular defect in Ben's heart.  Karin said when they boarded the plane in Knoxville, the full impact hit - she said when they arrived in Detroit, she just didn't want to get off the plane.  The good news is, the surgery went well, and today, Ben is a happy, energetic little boy.  Even though one heart valve is still too narrow and a small hole remains in his heart, the surgeon says that there is a 98% chance he will not require future surgeries. 

Karin and Brad pretty much faced Ben's dilemma by themselves.  None of their friends or family members had any experience facing serious heart surgery for their child.  Karin discovered 1 out of every 125 babies born will have a heart defect of some kind, and the majority of those will face surgery.  Knowing the need of helpful information, and maybe just knowing someone who had experienced the same thing she and Brad went through, Karin founded "Saving Little Hearts," a non profit support group and foundation that helps give information and support to other families who are in the same situation they faced with little Ben.  In less than two years, Saving Little Hearts has chapter coordinators in Knoxville, Johnson City, and Nashville.  They are now close to having coordinators set up in Ohio, South Carolina, Maine, and Michigan.  If you have a child with a heart defect, you are not alone - Saving Little Hearts is there to help.  If you are interested in becoming a coordinator in your area, please contact them - you are badly needed to help in this worthwhile organization. 

You can reach Karin at www.Savinglittlehearts.com

Remember, your participation can make a difference!