Baby gets new heart
By C.L. LOPEZ
Staff Writer
LOMA LINDA After more than three months spent waiting for a lifesaving donor heart, the boy named after Superman has been given a second chance.
Kal-El Villatoro received a donor heart Tuesday morning.
"He is stable and he is progressing," said Kay Ogata, cardiac transplant coordinator at Loma Linda University Medical Center. "I am very optimistic."
He is sedated and quietly recovering and will likely be in the hospital for two weeks, she said.
"We will take it one day at a time," she said.
Kal-El was born May 22 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The structural heart deformity meant the boy would need a heart transplant to survive.
Following an ultrasound, his parents, Alba and Jose, were sent to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he has been since birth. Jose wanted to give the boy the birth name of the fictional character because he knew his son would have to be strong for the battle for his life that lay ahead.
He has been on the list waiting for a heart since April.
"We don't like to wait that long," said Ogata.
Monday afternoon, his parents finally heard the news they had been waiting for a donor heart was available for their son.
They rushed back to the hospital. A number of tests were performed before then transplant. It had been three weeks since the boy went into cardiac arrest.
"But he was holding his own," said Jose.
After waiting with friends and family during the more than four-hour surgery performed by Dr. Nahidh Hasaniya, a cardothoracic surgeon, Jose said they saw their son.
"It was overwhelming and exciting at the same time," he said. "We are excited and emotionally tired."
Details about the donor are kept confidential, but it is known that the other organs came from the same donor.
Jose said he didn't know if he will be get a chance to say thank you to the donor's family, but he said he and his family are grateful.
"It feels like he has a second chance," he said.
Already, he can see a difference in his son, noting he feels warmer and has his color back.
If all goes well, the boy is scheduled to be off of the ventilator and breathing on his own today or tomorrow.
Jose recalled holding his son's hand Tuesday, for the first time since the transplant.
"He was gripping my finger and that was the strongest grip he has ever had," he said. "He is my inspiration. Every day, I wake up for him."
E-mail Staff Writer C.L. Lopez at
clopez@redlandsdailyfacts.com 
Dilber MC Theme by HarzeM