Tommy's Story

Tommy
Age 10
Multiple Heart Transplants

Primary Children’s Medical Center

Tommy’s parents had no idea there was anything wrong with their beautiful baby boy. Soon doctors realized he only had half a heart—a condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome—that had gone undiagnosed during pregnancy.

After his first heart transplant at just four months old, Tommy lived an active life. When he was 9 years old, after a lifetime of skiing black diamonds, he was told there were major problems with his heart. He went straight to the ICU at Primary Children’s Medical Center and was so sick that he wasn’t allowed to go home. A few weeks later he was transferred to his own room at the hospital to wait for another heart.

Since he couldn’t go home, his family brought his home to the hospital. Soon there were posters, rugs and coyote pelts covering every inch of his room. Tommy’s brothers did their homework with him after school and the family ate dinner every night together at the hospital.

Tommy, 10, received his second heart on April 19, 2009 and since then he’s been enjoying sports, animals and being outdoors but he still feels at home when he visits Primary Children’s Medical Center.

About Walmart and Sam’s Club

Wal-Mart has supported Children’s Miracle Network since 1987. Since then, Children’s Miracle Network and Wal-Mart have worked tirelessly together to help children by raising money for children’s hospitals. Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members have raised more than $500 million for children’s hospitals during the 23 year relationship. This is the second year Walmart and Sam’s Club have sponsored the Champions program.

Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club

Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club is a Children's Miracle Network program that brings attention to the important work being done at children’s hospitals by honoring remarkable children who have faced severe medical challenges.

The Champions program designates a champion child in every state who has bravely battled a serious injury or illness. The champions represent the nearly 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals every year. The 2010 champions have dealt with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses including genetic diseases, heart transplants and traumas, as well as life-threatening staph infections.

As part of Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club, the champions travel for a week in June to Washington, D.C., where champions traditionally meet with their state senators on Capitol Hill, and the President of the United States during a visit to the White House. The family then travels to Orlando, Fla., for a second week in November. There, champions meet Children’s Miracle Network sponsor, hospital and media partners who all convene to celebrate a year of medical miracles during the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort.