Wyatt Zabinski was just three days old when he had his first heart surgery. Now four, he’s doing well after undergoing an additional two more.

 

Zabinski was born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Right Ventricle, which occurs when the right chamber of the heart is defective and not able to function properly. 

 

Wayne and Patti, Zabinski’s parents, learned about his condition before he was born when an ultrasound revealed the problem. 

 

Knowing he would need surgery soon after birth, the Zabinskis planned ahead of time for him to be born at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, which specializes in researching and caring for critically ill children.

 

Around one percent of children are born with a heart defect. Hypoplastic Right Ventricle is one of the most common, and doctors have a standard plan in place for babies born with it. Instead of an immediate heart transplant, they recommended Zabinski undergo a series of three heart surgeries to reroute his arteries and improve blood oxygenation. 

 

Zabinski had the first surgery when he was just three days old.

 

“Wyatt was very fragile after his first surgery and was actually listed for a heart transplant,” said Wayne Zabinski. “We waited for five weeks and then he suddenly made a huge improvement.”

 

The family stayed at the hospital for seven weeks before they were able to take him home. Zabinski had his second heart surgery when he was six months old, and his third when he was three years old. He did very well after the second and third surgeries, coming home in only a week after each.

 

“The purpose is to get him as far down the road as possible and wait for technology,” said Wayne Zabinski.

 

Today Wyatt Zabinski is healthy and active. He takes very minimal mediation, and is monitored by a cardiologist. He’s expected to do well until adulthood, when he will eventually need a heart transplant.

 

The family can’t say enough good things about the U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital. Today their goal is to help fund the hospital’s research and technology advancements to help give their son and all children with congenital heart defects the chance for a future.

 

On March 31, they held a fundraiser at St. Marcus Catholic Church in Clear Lake with the help of Peggy Berger, a REFIT instructor, who led fitness classes for attendees.

 

“I wanted to tie the physical fitness of exercising with heart health,” said Patti Zabinski. 

 

This month she will be participating in Goldy’s Run, the U of M’s annual fundraiser, for the second year. Wyatt Zabinski and his six-year-old sister, Sonia, will be participating in Goldie’s Gallop Kids run. 

 

To donate towards the Zabinskis’ run, please visit crowdfund.umn.edu/GoldysRun17_Wyatt. All money raised goes towards pediatric cardiology research at the U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital.