Morgantown, Wisconsin (WBOY) — On Wednesday, WVU Medicine Children’s held a donation day where they solicited donations to help the women and children undergoing treatment. Her one such child is her 8-month-old Kingston Hamm. He became a celebrity at the WVU Medical and Children’s Hospital after fighting almost his entire life.
“When you walk in, everybody knows Kingston,” said Kingston’s mother, Heather. “They know his name. He’s not just a number, he’s a human being and everyone cares a lot about Kingston.”
A boy from Davis, West Virginia, is known as an institutional warrior.
Doctors discovered multiple heart defects in Kingston when Heather was around 18 weeks pregnant. The doctor explained that treatment of the defect consists of multi-stage repair.
“It was the worst news I’ve ever heard,” Heather said. “We thought it was the end of the world.”
Kingston was born with hypoplastic right heart syndrome, a heart defect that causes low blood oxygen levels. Infants born with this syndrome have a poor survival rate. Soon, he was fighting for his life with his loved ones and his WVU Medicine Children’s team in his corner.
Less than 10 days old, he started extracorporeal membrane oxygen therapy, a form of life support for people with life-threatening heart and lung problems. Soon after, he underwent multiple open-heart surgeries and was admitted to many pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).
Kingston’s mother said she is forever grateful for all the support and assistance the facility has provided to give her son the gift of life.
“Without WVU, I wouldn’t have Kingston,” Heather said. “They are like a second family to us. increase.”
Now, all that surrounds Kingston and his heartfelt fights is love and compassion.
“Here in West Virginia, people need to contribute because as long as we have the donations and the facilities to keep the facility in the great condition it is in, we can get the care we need,” Heather said. said.
Stories like Kingston are made possible thanks to those who donate to WVU Medicine Children’s. All day on March 22nd, WVU Medicine hosted a mediathon where callers could make donations to support the hospital. Until the end of March 22, if you are interested in donating to WVU Medicine Children’s during the mediathon, call 1-833-279-8505, text WVUKIDS to 51555, or visit OneDayforKids. com.
Also on donation day, WBOY’s parent company, Nexstar Media Group, presented WVU Medicine Children’s with a $25,000 check.
The WVU Medicine Children’s Mediathon video can be viewed in the player below.