OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — The 2020 American Heart Association Heart & Stroke Ball Prince is 5-year-old Wyatt Vollertsen.
3 News Now recently had the opportunity to meet his family and hear how they never expected him to even come home from the hospital after birth.
Christine Vollertsen was only 20 weeks pregnant when she and her husband, Josh, received a grim diagnosis.
"I was even told by the perinatologist, if we get a baby out of this, we're talking the stuff of miracles," Christine said.
Doctors told them the pregnancy likely wasn't viable and the baby's heart could stop at anytime. Christine went full term and was induced. They weren't sure if the baby would survive childbirth. If so, they didn't expect to have much time at all.
"I already been to the mortuary, we spoke with the mortician. I had bought the urn, we had scheduled transportation so I was there to support her fully, and if we had any time that was to be cherished," Josh said.
They soaked up the seconds with baby Wyatt. He met his grandparents and his big brother, Luke.
As time kept ticking on, medical professionals at the hospital called Dr. Scott Fletcher at Children's Hospital and Medical Center.
He and a co-worker arrived to check out Wyatt's heart. They saw his congenital heart defect was complex, but, "I told Josh and Christine, I know this isn't what you had planned, but this is what I think we can do."
Dr. Fletcher called Dr. James Hammel, a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, and discussed the case with him.
"All of a sudden gears shifted from keep the child comfortable, somber situation to a mad dash emergent transfer to Children's Hospital," said Dr. Hammel.
A team of doctors and medical professionals worked together to put a temporary pacemaker in Wyatt the night he was born.
Two weeks later, he had a more intensive surgery.
"I guess one of my philosophies is that there's no hurry in giving up, if a child isn't going to make it, they aren't going to make it, but you can still do what you do and give them a chance. He did well. He did great," Dr. Hammel said.
Wyatt will tell you he's in grade "zero which is kindergarten."
He has a permanent pacemaker and takes daily medications for pulmonary hypertension, but he is an active little boy with no scheduled future surgeries.
"I do think about it everyday, it's really changed the way we live life because we have this spectacular gift, and we're just enjoying every minute of it that we can," said Christine.
Josh added, "at the end of the day, the plan that you make is not the plan that is being made for you so live in the moment and just cherish it because you never know when that's going to change."
The doctors and Vollertsens also give credit to the American Heart Association which helps fund technology and advancements in this field.
This year's Heart & Stroke Ball is sold out, but if you'd like to get involved with AHA, click here.
