Salina boy receives heart transplant after congenital heart defect diagnosis
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Peter Hernandez was one day old when it was discovered that he had a critical aortic stenosis, a congenital heart defect.
He was able to have a successful surgery but developed an infection that was destroying his aortic valve.
Peter’s mother, Erin, said this caused heart failure, more surgeries, and uncertainty for his life.
“They gave us the weekend but said gather your family, get everyone together, and spend time together with Peter because we weren’t sure if he was going to make it out of this surgery or not,” said Erin.
He made it through the operation and began his road to recovery in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
At just two and a half months old, Peter was listed for a heart transplant. It took four months before Peter and his family were notified that there would be a heart available.
“We were just so blessed that he would be able to be getting stronger and be healing and do all the normal things hopefully that all the little boys can do,” said Peter’s mother.
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Peter and his family worked with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association known as COTA. COTA is a charity that helps families with financial barriers for those in need of a lifesaving transplant by providing fundraising assistance.
Peter’s father, Christopher, said that COTA and the Salina community came together to help raise over $75,000.
“People didn’t even know him, they didn’t know his story, and they just all came and supported him. This whole city did, and that was really special, I mean, especially in such a trying time,” Christopher said.
Peter is now five and is on track to live his life the best way he can with his siblings and playing with friends in the Salina community.
The family still has to be careful about illness and people being sick around Peter due to him being immunocompromised, but they say they are excited about his future and are grateful to people who are organ donors.
“You don’t want anything bad to happen, but at the same time, while that bad thing could happen, you could really give the most beautiful gift to allow for someone else to live, and I think that’s important to remember,” said Peter’s father.
Data from the Health Resource Services Administration shows that from 2018-2023, the waiting list for a heart in Kansas was 329. The total of heart transplant recipients from 2018-23 was 267.
Every four months, Peter takes a trip to Kansas City to see his cardiologist, and every year, he will have a heart biopsy. There is no timeline on if he will need another heart, but it is probable that he will need one in the future.
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