At a routine 19-week ultrasound, Kristine and Matt expected to leave joyful, with new photos of their first child, Nate. Instead, they learned Nate had several serious heart defects. They were devastated.
“We didn’t know if Nate would live, or have a normal life,” Matt said. “I remember asking one of the doctors, ‘Will he ever be able to ride a bike?’”
Born a month early and weighing only 5.5 pounds, Nate had his first procedure at Boston Children’s at only three days old. He was in good hands: Boston Children’s is a world leader in treating kids with complex heart conditions. Doctors stabilized Nate’s tiny heart so he could return home and grow a bit bigger and stronger before more surgery. But that day came sooner than expected.
One day at home, Matt noticed Nate’s skin looked blue as he sat in his baby swing. When Matt picked him up, Nate was limp and not breathing. Matt had to do something he says no parent should ever have to do to their child: He started CPR and revived baby Nate as Kristine called 911. An ambulance rushed Nate to Boston Children’s.
“There was a big team waiting for Nate,” Kristine recalled. “Looking at the doctors gathered, I saw confidence. I saw calm. I knew Nate would be OK.”
Doctors stabilized Nate’s heart, but his condition worsened over the next few weeks. His doctors had hoped to wait months before performing open-heart surgery on Nate—still a fragile newborn—but they decided they couldn’t wait any longer.
“I remember one doctor describing the surgery and what they planned to do like I describe making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, with that kind of ease,” Matt says. “I was thinking, ‘Nate’s in the best hands. They do this better than anyone.’”
Over the next two years, Nate became a frequent flyer at Boston Children’s, with eight more trips to the operating room, eight inpatient stays and nearly 150 outpatient appointments.
Matt and Kristine say Boston Children’s cared for more than Nate’s heart. Child Life specialists brought toys, music and magic tricks to Nate’s bedside so he could have fun and just be a kid. Therapists helped him stay on track developmentally during long hospital stays. Staff members helped the family find temporary housing near the hospital and connected them to other forms of support during exhausting months of care.
“Every single time we went to Boston Children’s, we felt like we were receiving the absolute best care possible."
Kristine, Nate's mom
Today, 6-year-old Nate plays hockey, lacrosse and baseball, takes swimming lessons and loves riding bikes with his little sister, Hannah. His parents describe him as kind and bright beyond his years. They nicknamed him “Nate the Great” for his superhero spirit and constant smile despite his many health challenges.
To pay it forward and help other kids, Nate’s parents donate blood regularly and host annual blood drives. Nate shares his story and inspires marathoners as a patient partner on Boston Children's Miles for Miracles Team. Thinking of him helps marathoners cross the finish line and raise funds for the hospital. And Nate’s family has raised more than $40,000 for Boston Children’s cardiac programs through the annual Eversource Walk for Boston Children’s Hospital.
“Boston Children’s is the reason we are the family of four we were meant to be,” Kristine said. We get to wake up every day and hug our son and our daughter. We are so grateful.”
