We learned about Drew's condition, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, because of the knowledge and dedication of my OBGYN through an ultrasound. He believed I needed to see a Pediatric Cardiologist as soon as possible because of an abnormality of the baby's heart. When my husband and I arrived at the Cardiologists office, we had no idea of the diagnosis that would surround our lives. Our cardiologist did an echo to detect the cardiac function and found the congenital heart defect. From that point on our lives have changed.

On April 23, 2007 Andrew Patrick was born by Cesarean section and was given the best possible care. Our team of Doctors and Nurses were prepared to give him a fighting chance. After three days of being in the NICU, he was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. We met with the Nurses and Doctors that would help to save Drew's life. They were very honest and gave us the news regarding Drew's condition and chances of surviving the first of a series of three staged surgeries. The news was devastating. He was more unstable than anyone first thought. We knew he was strong, but we would never know what a fighter he would become.

Drew came through his first surgery (the Norwood procedure) in just over four hours. He was so critical and it was so hard to see him with so many tubes, wires and monitors attached to him. The only comfort we had was knowing that he was still fighting hard and that he was still with us.

After a few more scares and thirty one days in the hospital we were able to leave with our little boy, our little miracle. He continued to grow and develop and bring so much joy to our lives. Drew had many Doctors appointments and was on three different types of medicine when we came home. This was one of the more difficult things to get used to. Over time the Doctors appointments became more spaced, the medicine was regulated and Mom and Dad were on his schedule. Things began to almost become normal!

On December 3, 2007 Drew had his second surgery (Bi-directional Glenn). For the second surgery we had to bring him to the Hospital, stay with him in a pre-op room and we watched The Wiggles to pass the time. This was hard to let him leave my arms and see the Nurse take our son into his next open heart surgery. We waited with our families and tried to pass the time until our first update.

Our first update was good and shortly after, his wonderful and brilliant Cardio-Thorasic surgeon, Dr. Alfieris gave us the great news that Andrew pulled through and was doing well. We were all so happy and relieved that our prayers were answered again.

Drew was quite the patient. He was determined to have his recovery go his way! He continued to amaze us as well as his Doctors and Nurses. We were able to leave the Hospital after only six days.

In March of 2010 while playing and getting ready for a walk, Drew collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital. He was examined, given tests and decided by his doctors that it was just a fainting episode. They wanted us to follow up with a neurologist to make sure it was not a seizure.

After a week in the hospital in July 2010, due to long term EEG monitoring it was determined that he was not having seizures while he was awake. He was having small episodes while he slept, but it did not interfere with his daily living. Drew continued to do well and had no other issues, he was his typical self. He had a great summer, swimming, playing, being a 3 year old little boy.

In October of 2010, Drew started to act more tired and was having some episodes of "passing out". Each and every time he had an episode we consulted his doctors. He always came back with a clean bill of health. His heart function always looked good.

Then on Tuesday, November 23rd, Drew collapsed and did not come back like he usually did. The paramedics checked him out and we went to the hospital. He was very tired and again had an EKG and check ups with neurology and his cardiologist. We were told he was doing better, but we put a 24-hour heart monitor on him just to see if it captured an episode. It did not capture anything. Drew came home that night and was right back to his normal self.

On Thanksgiving Day, he was dancing to Blue's Clues and suddenly paused, and began to scream. I picked him up and he just collapsed. He was having a heart attack. The paramedics came and worked on him, rushed him to the hospital to stabilize him. Mercy flight was called and he was taken to Strong memorial in Rochester.

When we arrived we knew it was very bad, but we held out hope. We were told how critical he was and from then on we had to wait to see if Drew could continue to fight. The next day, Friday November 26th, his nurse Sharon saw his pupil on his right side was enlarged. After a cat scan it revealed he was hemorrhaging on the right side of his brain. His little body could not fight any longer. We held him and said our goodbyes. Our little boy was a fighter until his last breath.