10 Sep The Winburn Family Story

The Winburn Family Story

Levi Gabriel Williams was born with a heart condition called dextrocardia, which required open-heart surgery for him to survive.

I am beyond grateful for everything you did for me while my son was fighting for his life. When I was 35 weeks pregnant, I was told that my son may have some heart defects, but they couldn’t tell the extent because of how far along I was. While in Charleston for an echocardiogram, my blood pressure shot up, and I immediately had my son by emergency C-section a few hours later. I was told about RMHC Charleston, and I called them the next day to see if they had an opening. Thankfully, they did. We traveled almost three hours to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, so there was no way we wanted to be that far away from my son. We just couldn’t.

When I was able to see my son for the first time, they told me that he had dextrocardia. This means my son was born with

his heart backwards and would need open-heart surgery for him to survive. He didn’t have the valve that connected the heart to the lungs, so he had to be on a medication called Prostaglandin, which would manually pump oxygenated blood from his heart to his lungs.

When we arrived at RMHC Charleston, I was so nervous. Would they question why I needed to stay? How long would we be able to stay? Do I have to pay anything because I don’t have much money on me? So many questions ran through my mind, but I was greeted with the most loving smile, and I felt like I was home. This was our home for the next 34 days.

Finding out that your 8-day-old new child has to undergo major open-heart surgery in order to survive, and seeing his chest open and his little heart beating—it just does something to you. Something that you just cannot describe. There are just no words. You honestly don’t ever realize how strong you are until being strong is the only option you have.

I was able to walk the few blocks in the morning and at night and be close to my son. It was truly a blessing. Every time we were there, I kept receiving God’s touch, and I will never be able to repay everyone for all the love and support I was given during the worst time of my life.

The House provided meals when I didn’t have anything to eat and wasn’t able to afford meals at the hospital. Most nights I would come into the House and not be able to speak when the staff spoke to me. I would greet them of course, but I would have to choke back the tears, and it’s like they knew. They knew that I had a hard day and not to question me any further. The House offered us grace—something that is very rare nowadays—so I am beyond appreciative.

Thank you! My son, Levi Gabriel Williams, thanks you too! From the bottom of his backwards heart! ❤️
—Chelsea Winburn