The boy who is all Heart

The 4-year-old son of Irish immigrants bravely battles congenital heart disease and continues to beat the odds

“I have a special heart you know,” a vivacious four-year-old told the Irish Voice last weekend.

Little Adam was born with a rare congenital heart condition. It has been an extremely difficult first couple of years for Adam and his family, but things are getting better.

“It’s going to be a great Christmas this year,” said Adam’s mom Lisa.

Adam has been through several invasive surgeries since his birth. His last surgery was this past August, and since then Adam has shown signs of great improvement.

“Look at him, he is just like any other four-year-old,” laughs Lisa as her precious son drags his little two-year-old sister into the living room to play with their Lego.

Over a fine lunch spread last Saturday at their Yonkers home, Adam and his family shared with the Irish Voice the joy they now feel that their son is finally living a normal life.

Lisa, 39 and John, 33, are Irish immigrants. Lisa hails from Co. Cork and John from Co. Fermanagh. The happy couple met in a local establishment a few years ago.

When they became pregnant with their first child they shared the joy and excitement every couple experiences before the arrival of their unborn. However, their world came crashing down around them when Lisa was 35 weeks was pregnant.

A scan at St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers revealed that something was seriously wrong with their precious baby.

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” said Lisa with a heavy heart.

“The nurse kept telling me the numbers were not adding up and I’d need to have further testing.”

Everything happened very fast after that. They were transferred to Columbia University Hospital in Manhattan where they discovered that their soon-to-be born baby had a serious heart problem.

“We were devastated for sure,” shared John, a carpenter. “We really didn’t know what to expect.”

Adam was born at seven pounds, 14 ounces via [read the full article on IrishCentral.com]

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The above story appeared in the Irish Central Magazine a few weeks ago, and is about the son of Millstreet woman Lisa Murphy:

“He is an amazing kid & has come so far in the past 4 and a half years, we want more than anything to spread awareness about congenital heart defects. It’s the #1 birth defect, and Adam is a through testament of courage and bravery, and inspires me everyday. I’m hoping his story will help people spread the word about congenital heart defects and support this very worthy cause, and also make people appreciate what they have and give back to people less fortunate than them this Christmas & always” – mum Lisa

To contact Lisa email her at <email>

To donate to heart disease visit http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org