A word from our founders.

Hi, we’re Matt and Sarah Hammitt. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share our story with you, and also grateful that you would be interested in learning more about our organization.

On July 14th, we celebrated nineteen years of marriage. Together we have been blessed with four children: Lewis (7), Bowen (10), Claire (12), and Emmy (14). We don’t take the gift of family lightly, and we do our best not to take it for granted that we have the opportunity to use our story in a way that can help others. Our most meaningful work has been fueled by the beauty and pain of our family experience. As we share our story we long to tell a fairytale ending. However, closure is not a luxury afforded to parents of children living with chronic illness. This is the case for us and our nine-year-old son, Bowen. 

Bowen was born on September 9th, 2010 with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The left side of his heart was severely underdeveloped in utero, leaving only the right side to pump “oxygen poor” blood to his body after birth. Though we had known of Bowen’s condition before he was born, it was difficult to watch his breathing become shallow and his skin turn ash blue within the first few days of his life. Statistics have shown over 30% of children born with HLHS won’t make it until their fifth birthday. Children who survive require lifelong medical care. This care can include unexpected hospital stays, surgeries, medication and heart transplant.

At only five days old, Bowen endured his first open heart surgery at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the months following his first surgery, Bowen suffered a stroke, cardiac arrest, thirty-six hours of life-support (ECMO) and transient hyperinsulinism. During those first four months in the hospital, Bowen fought for his life. We rarely left his bedside and did our best to support one another emotionally, while juggling the demands of work and parenting.

We made it home just before Thanksgiving, bringing Bowen home with an NG tube and over a dozen medications. With little provision for home assistance, we were responsible for his care. Being that our livelihood involved (Matt) traveling, it was very difficult on our marriage and family. 

In February of 2011, we returned to Ann Arbor for Bowen’s second open heart surgery. This time the operation went smoothly and to our surprise we returned home within ten days. Then, on July 31st, 2019, we returned to Mott for Bowen’s third palliative repair, the Fontan. This surgery also went better than anticipated and his basic recover was less than ten days.

In addition to his open-heart surgeries, Bowen has had multiple heart catheterizations, emergency visits to the hospital and a sternotomy repair. Nine years after his birth, we consider ourselves very fortunate to have a son who loves life, his family and the arts. 

We hold great hope for Bowen’s future, but we also embrace the reality that his health is uncertain. Because of the love and and support that so many have shown us, we now work to raise money for other families in need.

We humbly ask for you to consider giving to Whole Hearts Foundation to make future projects possible.

Sincerely,

Matt and Sarah Hammitt