Grant's Story
By: Donna Moore 2005 JRFH/HFH Grant Recipient Arizona & SWD JRFH/HFH Coordinator Julia Randall Elementary School Payson, Arizona

After teaching Physical Education for 23 years in the Gila Valley in southeastern Arizona, my family made the decision to relocate to the beautiful pines of Payson in northern Arizona. My first week teaching Physical Education at Julia Randall Elementary School, I was introduced to Grant Weame, an incredible third grade student. Grant was unable to participate in Physical Education due to the degeneration of a value in his heart. He would be receiving open-heart surgery during our fall break. Even though you could see the twinkle in Grant's eyes, his body demonstrated signs consistent with his condition. He became increasingly weaker and noticeably tired as the days past. To fully understand Grant's story, let me take you back to the beginning.

Grant was born with Tetralogy of Fallot with Absence Pulmonary Valve Syndrome, an extremely rare congenital heart defect. Tetralogy of Fallot means there are four things wrong with the heart; there is a hole between the ventricles, there are many levels of obstruction from the right ventricle to the lungs, the aorta lies directly over the ventricular septal defect, and the right ventricle develops thickened muscle. This rare and complex heart defect occurs in about 5 out every 10,000 babies. The complete lack of pulmonic valve tissue is known as Absence Pulmonary Valve Syndrome. This condition occurs in approximately 3% of patients with Tetralogy of Fallot.

At the age of 4 months, Grant underwent his first open-heart surgery at Phoenix Children's Hospital to repair his heart. During this initial surgery, all four defects associated with Tetralogy of Fallot were repaired and a human valve was placed in Grant's heart. Grant grew and physically developed as a normal little boy until his mom noticed Grant becoming more and more exhausted during the summer prior to his 3rd grade year. Following an exam with his cardiologist, Dr. Marcus in Scottsdale, Grant underwent a coronary angiogram in September of 2005. A coronary angiogram gives vital information regarding the blood pressure inside the heart, and shows how well the pumping chambers and valves are working. A catheter is inserted into the groin artery and up to the heart. Dr. Marcus discovered Grant's human valve had almost completely disintegrated causing a weak surge of clean blood through the body. This had resulted in Grant's lack of energy.

Once again Grant was scheduled for open-heart surgery at Phoenix Children's Hospital to replace his disintegrated heart valve. This procedure took place during our two-week fall break. His heart surgeon, Dr. Teodori would now replace his failed heart valve with a porcine or pig valve. Following the surgery, Grant's mom immediately noticed his instant burst of energy. Grant was yet again on the road to a healthy active life.

Upon Grant's return to school following fall break, he proudly showed me the incision on his chest. It was amazing what Grant had gone through. Not only did he return with that twinkle I had always seen in his eyes, but also I quickly discovered Grant had an outgoing, fun-loving personality. Each day he attended Physical Education class, Grant would share a story or a joke to make me laugh. That memorable crooked smile was a sign of Grant's physical progress. Grant was going to make a full recovery. Toward the end of my first year in Payson, Grant informed me he would be moving to Duncan in southeastern Arizona. I joked with Grant, telling him he couldn't leave the JRE Bulldogs and become a Duncan Wildcat. I was saddened to see Grant move away.

The following year, I often wondered how Grant was doing. During this second year in Payson, we began an American Heart Association tradition for our Jump Rope for Heart event. My students placed "In Honor" or "In Memory" hearts around our gym. I spoke to each class regarding their former classmate and friend who had undergone open-heart surgery the previous year. I informed them the money they would raise through our Jump Rope for Heart event would help the American Heart Association fund vital research projects similar to the procedures that saved Grant's life. Needless to say, our Jump Rope for Heart event was a huge success. We raised $10,428.42; over double the amount we had raised the previous year. Our Jump Rope for Heart was in honor of Grant.

Prior to writing this article, I contacted Grant's mom Jill to see how Grant was doing. He is currently a healthy 11-year-old 5th grade student at Duncan Elementary School. Grant is no longer on any heart medication and his only restrictions are he can never play football or wrestle due to the physical contact. Other than these restrictions, Grant is a very physically active young man. He enjoys scouting and bikes daily.

So often I am asked, "Why do you put so much effort into your Jump Rope for Heart event?" My reply, I do it for Grant and the countless other individuals our event will save through the American Heart Association's research and educational programs.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11071

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/tof/tof_what.html