This time feels different. So very different.

I remember his first open-heart surgery. I had only known him for 7 days, and yet I loved him with my whole heart. I watched as he came out of that OR connected to a heart and lung machine—the most incredible thing keeping my baby alive. It was terrifying… but also miraculous.

His second and third surgeries were filled with fear. I had trained myself to expect the worst so I wouldn’t be disappointed. That mindset became a sort of shield—but it never made things easier.

And now… here we are. A heart transplant.

Someone will open up his chest and remove the only heart I’ve ever known him with. The heart that carried him through every fight, every smile, every moment up to now. And in its place, a new heart—a precious, unimaginable gift from a family that just lost their baby.

I’m hopeful. I’m scared. I’m holding my breath as we sit just an hour and a half away from surgery. My mind drifts to stories of other transplant families—their struggles, their strength, the heartbreak of when things didn’t go as hoped.

A transplant isn’t the solution we imagine it to be—it’s the beginning of a whole new fight. And I’m scared of what’s on the other side of those OR doors.

But I know one thing: he needs me to be strong. So I will be.

Even if I fall apart the moment they wheel him away, I will be strong for him.

Because I love him more than words will ever say. And I believe in this new heart, and in the future we’re all praying for.

Please keep Eric, his medical team, and the donor family in your prayers. Every heartbeat matters.

Eric Liam DeLeon you are amazing!!

7:30am

They have taken him back!!

10:13 am

Right now, the donor is in the operating room, and we are waiting for the next step in this delicate and emotional process. Although the donor has been declared brain dead, we are awaiting cardiac death before organ retrieval can begin. This is known as donation after cardiac death (DCD), and it involves waiting until the heart stops beating before removing the organs.

Once the heart is removed, it will be carefully transported here to begin Eric’s transplant.

Our hearts are heavy for the donor’s family—the strength and selflessness they are showing in the midst of unimaginable pain is beyond words. Please continue to pray for them, for the medical teams involved, and for Eric as we wait for this life-changing gift to arrive.

Thank you for walking with us through every moment. Your love, support, and prayers are holding us up.

10:45am

The donor has officially been declared a cardiac death. My heart aches for this precious family who, in the midst of unimaginable loss, chose to give the gift of life.

Their child’s heart is now on its way to the hospital—to Eric.

It’s hard to put into words the weight of this moment. We are grieving for one family while holding onto hope for ours. Please continue to pray for the donor’s loved ones, for the medical team, and for Eric as we prepare for this next chapter.

This heart is more than just an organ—it’s a symbol of love, sacrifice, and second chances.

11:51am

We just got the call—Dr. Reyes has officially begun the heart transplant process. He’s in the OR now, carefully opening Eric up and beginning the delicate work of removing old scar tissue to prepare for what’s ahead.

Once they receive confirmation that the donor heart has landed safely, they will proceed with removing Eric’s heart and placing the new one into his chest.

This is the moment we’ve all been praying for—full of hope, emotion, and the incredible gift of life through organ donation. Please continue to lift up Eric, the surgical team, and the donor’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

A new heartbeat is on its way.

You got this, Eric. We’re with you every step of the way.

7:13pm

I’ve been feeling terrible that I can’t respond to everyone’s messages fast enough. My brain just isn’t all there right now, and it gets overwhelming trying to reply because I do want each of you to know how deeply grateful I am for your prayers, love, and support.

Honestly, I’ve given up trying to keep up individually, so I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you to everyone who came to be with him this morning. Thank yo, Garcia Family, for keeping Janelle while we get through this. Thank you to those who’ve come by the Spiral to sit with us and just be present. Words can’t express how much that’s meant.

The question I get the most is, “How are you doing?” The truth is—better than I was. I took a 15 minute nap, had a shower and some food, and for the first time, I don’t feel like I’m going to pass out from exhaustion or like my head is going to explode.

I’m just anxious to see him. I want to hug him, squeeze his face—I just can’t wait. We are so proud of him.

Also, feel free to add Eric’s profile if you’d like to follow his journey. I’ll be sharing updates there so we don’t overwhelm anyone on my personal account.

Thank you all. Truly.

7:35pm

We’ve been moved to the consult room — and the doctor just came in with an update.

Eric is stable and he did great through the procedure. We are so proud of his strength.

That said, his chest will need to remain open for the next 2–3 days. This is a delicate and very critical time. The blood vessels in his chest are extremely sensitive right now, and keeping the area open is the safest option to protect his healing heart.

Because of this, we kindly ask that no one come to visit during these next few days. Our top priority is keeping him safe and giving him every chance to recover fully.

It’s official — we’ve started a new chapter in Eric’s journey. Thank you for continuing to walk beside us through every step.

10:12pm

TRIGGER WARNING!

Seeing him lying there, looking so strong and peaceful, filled our hearts with gratitude. He looks absolutely amazing, even with everything he’s been through. His chest is still open for medical reasons, so please be aware before watching the video—it’s not easy to see, but it’s a part of this powerful journey.

We are in awe of his strength, the hands of the medical team, and the prayers that continue to lift him up. Thank you for standing with us through every step. Keep those prayers coming—this is just the beginning of this new chapter!