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June 7, 2009

Hannah’s Hearts plans fundraiser

John Walker

MARLOW — Miracles happen every day.

Some miracles are more obvious than others.

Such is the case with 9-month-old Hannah Linsky.

When Hannah was born, everyone thought she was a fine healthy baby, but when medical personnel noticed that Hannah was crying, getting only 50 percent oxygen and turning blue in the face, they knew something was wrong.

It turned out that Hannah was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) known as transposition of the great arteries (TGA).

Until recently, any babies born with this defect died not too long after because the primary arteries into the heart are transposed.

Advances in technology, however, have made it relatively simple to fix the problem. And so it was for Hannah.

“The doctors told us they pretty much did a heart transplant on Hannah,” said her mother, Deonna. “It was just her own heart.”

The only question is whether one is close enough to a medical facility to receive the care.

The Linskys were.

“If you are born in America, you are pretty much taken care of,” she said. “They found a doctor and sent us off to Dallas.”

After the procedure was performed on the 9-day-old Hannah, she was required to have a checkup with the doctors once a month to make sure all was well. Now, they only require a checkup every six months and then it will be once a year for the rest of her life, her mother said.

But other than being required to have a checkup once a year, Hannah is a strong baby and will grow up with limited or no side effects, just like any other baby, she said.

Because of this miracle in the Linsky family, the mother sought out resources about heart defects and organizations that are trying to resolve the problems.

“You always wonder why things happen to you and your family,” Linsky said.

One day, she noticed a flier for Samaritan’s Purse, which is an organization that identifies children with heart diseases in countries without the technology or training and partners them with a facility in America to receive treatment.

“It hit me that had she been born elsewhere besides America, she might not have survived. We’re so blessed to be here.”

She ended up starting her own organization, Hannah’s Hearts, that has partnered with Samaritan’s Purse in fulfilling its purpose.

“It only costs $1,500 for them to bring a child here to America for treatment,” Linsky said. “In fact, there are two kids from other countries here in Oklahoma right now receiving treatment.”

But Hannah’s Hearts performs another purpose, as well. It wants to ensure that those families who are crushed by the news of having a child born with CHD have a support group waiting to help.

Hannah’s Hearts makes care bags and sends them to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

“It’s to give to families who are thrust into this,” she said.

To help reach their goals of helping those who are suffering with the news of CHD in a newborn, Hanna’s Hearts is throwing a gala June 29 at First Baptist Church in Marlow.

A four-course dinner will be served, a silent auction held and entertainment provided, Linsky said.

Tickets cost $25 apiece and can be purchased at Kay’s Gifts and More, The Palace Theatre, Dear Friends and First Baptist Church in Marlow. T-shirts are also being sold.

For information, call Linsky at 580-467-8118.

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