ANNA — Hayden Weiskittel, the Anna teen who received a heart transplant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in early April, has come home.
Hayden, and his mother, Christa, had been living in the Ronald McDonald House near the hospital since his release from the medical facility in mid-April. They were surprised by a phone call from the doctor, July 5, that said they could move back to Anna.
“On the morning of the fifth, we had a clinic visit. We asked when we might be able to go home. At that time, we thought it would be after a biopsy scheduled for the week of July 17,” Christa said.
But at about 5:15 p.m. that day, they were told it was OK to pack up and head north.
“I was very excited,” Hayden said. “I was concerned about the time. By the time we were packing, it was 8 p.m. It’s a two-hour drive, so it was 10 p.m. when we got home.”
They waited up for Hayden’s dad, Scott, to get home at 11 p.m., but that wasn’t hard to do.
“We were too excited to sleep,” Hayden said.
“He’s much happier now,” Christa said. “Being at Ronald McDonald was better than the hospital, but it still wasn’t home.”
The 15-year-old expects to start his sophomore year at Anna High School in the fall. In the meantime, he’s enjoying the summer — and traveling back and forth to Cincinnati a couple times a week for doctor’s appointments.
“It’s a lot of driving now,” Christa said, “but it’s better than hanging out in Cincinnati waiting for the next biopsy.”
Biopsies are done every few weeks to check the level at which Hayden’s body might be rejecting its new heart. The early biopsies showed a zero rejection level. But a more recent one registered a level of 3A.
“That’s enough to put him in the hospital,” Christa said. A change in the medication regimen brought the level down to 2A, measured two weeks ago. Hayden will have another biopsy next week. The family is now getting used to the routine they have to follow to keep the level going down.
“We all have alarms,” Hayden said. They go off at 8 a.m., 3 p.m., and 8 p.m. every day. That’s when he has to take medication. In addition, his mom takes his blood pressure regularly and makes sure he gets the required exercise.
“It’s a relief that the transplant is over, but you’re kind of trading one set of things for another,” she said. “We don’t have the oxygen tank, but we have the time-sensitive medicines. We’re not waiting and wondering if we’re going to get a heart. But there are still a lot of things that could go wrong. We’re still in that medical mind set, making sure he’s feeling good.”
Christa can see a difference in her son from the boy who went into the hospital five months ago.
“His energy level is better than before the surgery. Now he can keep up with us. That’s an amazing transition to us. Over time, we got used to his limitations, but when you look back, you see the energy now,” she said.
Hayden feels the same way.
“What I know now is that what I when I used to feel normal, I (really) felt sick,” he said.
He still wears a mask over his nose and mouth, to prevent infection. He may have to wear the mask at school, too. That’s yet to be determined. There’s also a lot of “figuring out” at home to do.
“We’re merging old habits with new, necessary habits,” Christa said. That’s all right with Hayden.
“Being home. It’s the No. 1 most important thing,” he said.
