Shortly after his birth on February 3, 2014, Brantley Register’s hands and feet started turning blue. The nurses quickly checked his pulse oximetry and immediately realized his readings were dangerously low. After an echocardiogram was taken of his heart, he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), and was transferred to Levine Children’s Hospital the same evening. Less than 24 hours after being born, Brantley received a life-saving surgery, called the Norwood Procedure, which was performed by Dr. Benjamin Peeler, a pediatric cardiac surgeon for Levine Children’s Hospital. Brantley spent a total of 63 days in the Ricky Hendrick Centers for Intensive Care and 74 days total at Levine Children’s Hospital before finally going home for the first time in April 2014.
On August 26, 2014, Brantley returned to Levine Children’s Hospital to undergo a second surgery, known as the Glenn Procedure, which was successfully performed by Dr. Peeler. Thanks to the medical expertise of healthcare providers leading the Congenital Heart Program at Levine Children’s Hospital, combined with philanthropy that funds new technologies and equipment designed to correct heart conditions like HLHS, Brantley is well on his way to a healthy childhood.
Learn how you can help families like the Registers through the HEARTest Yard Fund.
Pictured: (Top) Brantley with Dr. Peeler and Congenital Heart Program staff; (bottom) Brantley with his parents, Brian and Luann Register.