As the school year begins, we are all busy with new teachers and fun sporting events. 

Zack will begin middle school this year and is excited to see his friends, meet new friends and new teachers. Being in middle school will require him to walk more due to changing of classes and other obstacles that he will have to navigate like others his age with the added stress of the physical stress caused by the condition of his heart.  Zack has been stable this summer. Summers are somewhat easier for him as he is able to rest as much as needed between activities and sleep in as much as his body requires. It is sometimes hard for others to understand how Zack’s heart can be failing if he looks so good. We are grateful for the medical staff that provides him amazing care and keeps his medications in range that allows him to still have some ability to be a kid!

He will go to Kansas City in September for his next cardiac catheterization and cardioMems placement. The CardioMem is a small device the size of a paperclip that would sit in his pulmonary artery allowing us to know the pressures in his lungs remotely. As the pressure in Zack’s heart continues to increase in return causes increased pressure in his lungs. If the pressures in his lungs are too high, he may not be a candidate any longer for a heart transplant. It is a delicate place to be sick enough to receive a heart but not too sick to not be able to tolerate a heart. We pray that Zack will receive his new heart before his lungs become affected. 

We are incredibly thankful to each of you who have partnered with COTA in honor of Zack which assists along his journey with transplant-related expenses as well as through words of encouragement, text, calls and prayers!`1