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On July 7th Hudson Wince entered this world at 10:40 p.m. He is the fourth son of Tanner and Talia Wince, joining brothers Easton, Ryder and Cohen. Luckily, Tanner and Talia were already in Colorado at the Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora when Hudson decided it was time to start his fight three weeks earlier than his due date of July 29th. Hudson was born with a heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and his battle had just begun. After the 20-week ultrasound, the Winces received a call that their baby had a heart defect and that it was HLHS. To confirm this diagnosis, the Winces had to see a cardiologist in Sioux Falls for further testing. Unfortunately, the Sioux Falls cardiologist confirmed the diagnosis, but on a positive note, testing was also done for genetic disorders using amniocentesis which all came back normal. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a birth defect where the left side of the heart does not form normally affecting normal blood flow through the heart. Causes of HLHS in babies are currently unknown. Originally, the Winces were only given the option of Omaha, NE by the cardiologist they were seeing as the right hospital for Hudson’s delivery and aftercare. After researching themselves and speaking to others who had a child going through an HLHS diagnosis, the Winces learned that Omaha was not the best option for Hudson as far as HLHS statistics were concerned. Children’s Hospital Colorado has great HLHS statistics and was the next closest option. It helped and was comforting that Tanner had a college friend with a child with an HLHS diagnosis that came to Children’s Hospital Colorado where they did all three of the surgeries and had a great outcome. As parents, an HLHS diagnosis is very scary, especially because it involves the heart. There is a lot that is unknown and unchartered with this fairly new medical diagnosis. The oldest living patients with HLHS who went through the surgeries are currently in their 30s. This is a journey that not many parents have had to take, but the Winces are going to do everything they can to help other parents who will face this journey as well. They were lucky to have guidance and support from their friends, Josh and Ashley Kirchner and their son Karson who are also on an HLHS journey. Being a part of the heart warrior community is not something a parent or child ever wants to be a part of, but the Wince’s have met some amazing people that understand and have gone through some of the same and similar challenges. Members of the heart warrior community are willing to do anything and everything to help one another. There is currently no cure for HLHS. Hudson will have a series of three surgeries before he is three years old. Hudson has already undergone the first surgery at four days old. The first surgery is called The Norwood and is a very challenging surgery. During this surgery a new “aorta” is created and connected to the right ventricle. A tube is also placed from either the aorta or the right ventricle to the vessels supplying the pulmonary arteries in the lungs. This surgery makes it possible for the right ventricle to pump blood to both the lungs and the rest of the body. Even after this surgery, a baby may still have a bluish hue to its skin color because the oxygen-rich and oxygen-deficient blood is still mixing in the heart. Hudson is currently in the Interstage phase while he is waiting for his next surgery. This is a very critical time for Hudson and his home monitoring. Each day Hudson’s weight, oxygen levels and fluid intake is monitored and measured. Because it is such a critical time in Hudson’s care, his health care team wanted him to stay in Denver until the next surgery that is scheduled for October 31st. On October 31st, Hudson will undergo his second surgery called The Glenn. This surgery is usually performed when the infant is between four and six months old. During The Glenn a direct connection between the pulmonary artery and the superior vena cava is created helping to return oxygen-deficient blood from the upper part of the body to the heart. This will reduce the work that the right ventricle must do by allowing blood returning from the body to flow directly to the lungs. The final surgery is called The Fontan. This surgery is usually done when an infant is between 18 months and three years old. During this procedure, the pulmonary artery and the inferior vena cava are connected which allows returning oxygen-deficient blood from the lower part of the body to the heart and then to the lungs. Once this final surgery is completed, the oxygen-rich and oxygen-deficient blood no longer mix in the heart and the infant’s skin will no longer have a bluish coloring to it. Infants with HLHS have the potential to have life-long complications. They will need regular follow-up visits with a cardiologist to monitor their condition. If the HLHS defect is complex or the heart becomes weak after the surgeries, a heart transplant may be necessary. Looking at Hudson it is hard to tell that he is not completely healthy. He is progressing and doing what normal healthy babies do at his age. Hudson’s scar on his chest serves as a reminder that even though he looks healthy on the outside, he is not on the inside. Hudson’s heart journey has affected the entire family. Hudson’s brothers Easton, Ryder and Cohen were busy this summer spending time between different family members. They spent time at the river, camping, and time with grandparents in Rapid City. The boys were able to come to Denver twice to see their baby brother, Hudson, and Talia. Easton is currently a first grader at Wagner Community School (WCS) and Ryder is in his second-year preschool at WCS. Cohen spends his days with Grandma Lisa Peters while Tanner is at work. Talia can see that even though the boys are kept busy, being separated from their mom and baby brother has taken a toll on them. They miss their mom and nights are especially hard for them after they are tired, have had a long day and just want to be comforted by their mommy. Cohen has been experiencing some separation anxiety and has a hard time being separated from Tanner and Grandma Lisa even for a few minutes. Being separated from her family and support system has taken its toll on Talia as well. Having a child with a medical condition is stressful enough and then having to do it without her husband by her side makes it lonely. Talia misses her family. Tanner is busy teaching and taking care of their boys here in Wagner. Both Tanner and Talia are teachers at WCS. Luckily, Tanner has been able to fly to Denver about every other weekend to be able to see Talia and Hudson. Tanner will be returning to Denver on October 31st for Hudson’s next surgery, but unfortunately will not be able to travel to Denver before then. The Wince’s have received and experienced an outpouring of support from the Wagner community. They have graciously received donations from golf tournaments this summer including The Missy Wunder Memorial Tournament, the Sue Bastemeyer Memorial Tournament, the Zach Johnson Legacy Tournament, the Scott Lippincott Memorial Tournament, the Wagner Building Supply Tournament and the Cimpl Made Hunts Tournament. There are currently two fundraisers going on that directly benefit the Wince family. Apparel WorX is currently selling Hudson’s Herd shirts and sweatshirts with part of the profits going to the Wince Family. The Hudson’s Herd logo was created by a local Colorado artist who created the buffalo specifically for Hudson. It represents Colorado on the left and South Dakota on the right with the path that Hudson and his family are walking down the middle of the buffalo and a promising, hopeful sunrise shining in the middle of both. For every item purchased, the Wince family receives $20.75 of the purchase thanks to many partnering local businesses including Apparel Worx, Peters Funeral Home, Payer Angus, Valley Pump, VonEschen Lawn and Landscaping, Fort Randall Casino, Parkston Lumber, Wolf Construction and Grindhouse 46 each donating a dollar per item sold. Booms and Katie Swatek Photography are each donating fifty cents per item sold. Grey Avenue Desings is also selling Hudson’s Herd hats, tumbler cups, keychains and tote bags with proceeds going to the Wince family. St. John’s Lutheran Church has also given the family donations from their weekly offerings and from fundraising lunch benefits. There is a GoFundMe account that is set up for the Wince family at gofund.me/2725335f. Besides all the amazing and gracious fundraisers, the family has also had people who have sent money and gift cards through Venmo. The community has recently asked for a card shower for Talia and Hudson. There has also been an online meal train set up for the Winces since Tanner returned to Wagner. A meal has been provided for Tanner and the boys almost every night since August 22nd by members of the Wagner and surrounding communities. The website to sign up for the meal train is meanltrain.com/m21l26. The WCS, Avon Student Council, and area businesses are collecting pop tabs to benefit Ronald McDonald Houses in the Wince family’s honor. Once collected, the pop tabs are recycled, and the money goes back to the Ronald McDonald Houses to allow them to keep serving families like the Wince’s in need of a play to stay while a child is in the hospital. The Wince family is very thankful for all that the community has done and continues to do for them. They ask that people keep praying for Hudson and their family as Hudson’s fight is far from over. It is Talia’s hope that everyone who purchases Hudson’s Herd merchandise will wear it proudly on the day of Hudson’s next surgery (October 31st). She would love to see people take pictures in their Hudson’s Herd clothing or with their merchandise and upload it to Hudson’s Heart Journey Facebook page. The family will be posting updates on Hudson’s journey on that Facebook page. It has been amazing to see how one little boy’s diagnosis has beautifully united a community in his fight with HLHS