Meet Deron!

From the moment he was born, Deron’s life has been defined by resilience. Diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries—a rare and life-threatening condition where the heart’s ventricles are reversed—he faced his first surgery at just 13 days old. At only 18 months, he endured three major heart surgeries in a single operation, an extraordinary procedure for anyone, let alone a toddler.

Throughout his childhood, Deron underwent multiple procedures, including the placement of artificial valves that had to be replaced as he grew. Still, he pushed forward, buoyed by the constant love and dedication of his family.

When Deron was eight, tragedy struck again. On Halloween night, while wearing his costume, he collapsed—severely dehydrated and in cardiac arrest. His sister, a first-year nursing student, performed CPR and kept him alive until help arrived. A blood clot had traveled from his heart to his brain, causing a stroke and paralysis on his left side. Brain surgery and months of therapy followed, but Deron kept fighting.

By 2018, his heart had weakened to the point where a transplant was the only option. In 2019, the family’s world revolved around the transplant waitlist. Harboring Hearts stepped in to provide hotel accommodations and critical support during this stressful time, ensuring they could stay close to his care team. After a month of waiting, a donor heart became available.

The surgery was complex and fraught with complications, including organ damage and delirium, but slowly, Deron began to recover. His father, Kevin, remembers the long, lonely trips to Rochester with his son while his wife cared for their younger children at home. “It was scary to be there alone, but knowing Harboring Hearts was behind us gave me strength,” Kevin shares.

Today, Deron is a college graduate, no longer dependent on oxygen, and looking forward to swimming again this spring. He still faces challenges—his health remains fragile due to immunosuppressant medications—but his determination and optimism remain unshaken.

Kevin reflects on their journey with deep gratitude: “It’s a blessing to have someone to lean on when you need help. You guys are my angels.”

Deron’s story is a testament to the power of love, perseverance, and the community of support that helps families weather their most difficult storms.