Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome—yes, we know, it’s a mouthful. Most people call it HLHS, and it essentially means being born with half of a heart. Sounds impossible, right? But it isn’t.

Our son, Ryder Owens, was born with HLHS. At just 20 weeks pregnant we learned that Ryder would enter the world with this life-threatening heart condition. We were given unimaginable choices: terminate the pregnancy, carry to term and let him pass naturally, or pursue a series of high-risk, lifesaving surgeries that might give him a chance at a normal-ish life. We chose to fight for Ryder.

Then, around 30 weeks pregnant, a fetal MRI revealed another devastating diagnosis—Pulmonary Lymphangiectasia, a severe lung condition. After countless discussions with specialists, we were told there was virtually no chance Ryder would survive more than a week after birth with both conditions combined. Once again, we were faced with an impossible decision: allow him to pass peacefully at birth, or retest everything and do absolutely everything possible to keep him alive.

We chose to fight.

Ryder was born via C-section at 39 weeks and immediately flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. After extensive testing—X-rays, scans, and heart and lung evaluations—the doctor returned the next morning apologizing.
“We must have read the MRI wrong,” he said. “I’m so incredibly sorry.”

The lung condition was gone.

The results baffled doctors. They told us it looked like his lungs they saw on the fetal MRI were completely gone and replaced with new lungs. Some called it a medical oversight. We call it a miracle from our Heavenly Father.

On Ryder’s sixth day of life, he underwent his first open-heart surgery—the Norwood Procedure—earning his first zipper scar. Recovery was incredibly difficult. His chest couldn’t be closed for nearly a week due to swelling, and we could see his tiny heart beating. There were moments we nearly lost him, and many more over the next two months that left us terrified. Even now, we still cry thinking about that time.

But Ryder kept fighting.

After three long months, he was finally strong enough for his second open-heart surgery—the Glenn Procedure—which he tolerated much better. Real recovery finally began. After 111 days in the hospital, Ryder came home and started life as a “normal” baby—whatever normal looks like for a heart warrior.

The past few years haven’t been easy, but Ryder has been able to enjoy a fairly normal childhood. Recently, though, signs have emerged that his heart needs further help. He tires easily, becomes short of breath, and his oxygen levels have begun to drop—no small thing for a very active two-year-old.

This means we’re preparing for Ryder’s next major surgery: the Fontan Procedure, scheduled for this summer after he turns three.

As you can imagine, this journey has been incredibly hard on our family. The trauma from the first two surgeries still lingers. Now that we truly know Ryder—his laugh, his stubbornness, his light—we’re terrified of losing him. On top of the emotional toll, we’ve faced ongoing challenges with insurance and medical expenses.

Despite it all, Ryder is pure joy.

He’s your typical two-year-old boy: he loves cars, music, dancing, blocks, and turning everything into a “boom-boom”, or play gun. He teases, plays, and charms everyone around him. His smile lights up a room. He is stubborn, strong-willed, spicy—and everything a fighter needs to survive.

We chose the name Ryder because it means “riding warrior.”
And we couldn’t have chosen a more fitting name for our little heart warrior.

Every product bought here will either help us with his upcoming surgery or go towards studies to finally find a cure for Congenital Heart Defects. Every product bought makes a world of difference. And we thank you from the very bottom of our hearts, even if one of them is only half of a heart.