The 2-year-old toddler, who survived almost 450 days thanks to a mechanical heart, will finally return home after receiving his new heart two weeks ago.
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“When I got the call, my daughter started screaming with joy. “We have a heart for Eliam!” […] I think I fell to my knees on the floor,” says the boy’s father, Jimmy Asselin, touched.
Balloons, stuffed animals, mascots and tears of joy, the atmosphere was festive in the intensive care unit of the CHU Sainte-Justine, where this morning a small celebration was organized in honor of little Eliam, 2 years old.
The toddler, who has lived most of his life between four disinfected walls, received his new heart two weeks ago. In the next few days, his parents will finally be able to take him home.
Finally at home
“The first thing I want to do is get him outside. Put it on the lawn,” emphasizes the dad, eyes beaming with happiness.
The baby was born in July 2020 with congenital atrioventricular block, a condition that caused his heart to beat at just 45 beats per minute instead of the usual 140 to 160 beats for newborns.
His condition took him under the knife for the first time in the first 48 hours of his life to insert a very small pacemaker. Since then, the operations have followed one another.
“It will be over, sons. I find it strange not being tied to a machine anymore [quand il est dans mes bras]’ whispers his mother, Sabrina Mercier Laplante.
A risk every day
With 443 days in the heart of Berlin, he is the Sainte Justine patient who has spent the longest time on this mechanical pump, which is external to the patient and circulates the blood instead of the natural organ.
A record his parents didn’t hope to beat. Because every day on the pump exposed him to the risk of complications such as infections, strokes or bleeding, which could occur without warning.
“We are so grateful to this family who said yes [au don d’organe]. I wanted to show what it feels like to say yes. Eliam will be able to go home. We’ve been waiting for this for so long,” she said, struggling to finish her sentence under the influence of her emotions, her son in her arms.
“Despite the tragedy they went through, they were able to bring life back,” the father adds, eyes bleary.
For her, that meant 443 days of agony. The biggest fear is that he won’t go for the transplant, his mother had previously confided to the journal.
“It wasn’t easy, but it ended well. From getting up in the morning with the whole family together, doing the basics, we will be able to appreciate all the little moments in life,” she concludes.