Birmingham, Ala. (Feb. 26, 2025) — Last year, we introduced you to Scott Sumner and Matthew O’Neal, both patients at Children’s of Alabama. Both boys were on the heart transplant list. A year later, Scott and Matthew have new hearts and a new lease on life.
Matthew’s Story:
Matthew was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which is a congenital heart defect that occurs when the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. In addition to his heart condition, Matthew’s mother, Stacey, says he developed a condition called PLE (Protein Losing Enteropathy). This led doctors to speed up the process for Matthew to get a new heart.
In 2023, Stacey says they transferred all of Matthew’s healthcare from Philadelphia, Mississippi, to Children’s of Alabama. He was admitted on October 6, 2023, and walked out the doors with a new heart on May 28, 2024, a total of 237 days in the hospital.
Stacey says it was an overwhelming experience to learn Matthew would receive a new heart. The night she received the call, she says it was like Matthew had a sixth sense.
“Matthew never stayed up late,” said Stacey. “He is always in bed by 9:30 p.m. But on this night, Matthew would not go to bed.”
Stacey says she received the call a little after midnight, and her heart dropped when she heard the news.
“I walked back in the room, and he could just tell on my face something was going on,” said Stacey. “Matthew does not like intense conversations, so he told me when the day comes, I want you to sling open the door and say it’s go time, and that’s what we did. “
Stacey says Matthew’s eyes lit up.
“He said mama, I just couldn’t go to sleep. I knew something was happening,” said Stacey. “Just to get that call, to know things are going to change. He is not getting worse. He’s going to get better; life will change for the better.”
Since Matthew’s heart transplant, Stacey says Matthew, now 13, has done several coin tosses at football games around their Mississippi community. He was the guest of honor at the Pee Wee Super Bowl and has been on several hunts around the country, with plans to attend a ram hunt and turkey hunt later this year. Stacey says Matthew is still pickling, but not as much right now because of the season. He plans to pick it up when more fresh vegetables are available in the spring. He is also still working on his cookbook.
Stacey offers this advice to another mother who is awaiting a heart transplant for their child.
“You have to keep your faith. You have to know that everything happens for a reason, and there’s a bigger picture behind every little thing you go through,” said Stacey. “The journey is not going to be easy. You have to witness your child or children go through so much that you can’t do anything about it. But you have to keep the faith, keep the faith strong, and believe there is a testimony to be told the whole time.”
Scott’s Story:
Scott was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart defect that occurs when the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. His mother, Jennifer, says he had multiple heart surgeries before the time he was 9 days old, and at the age of 6, he developed a condition called PLE (Protein Losing Enteropathy). That’s when she said doctors informed the family that Scott would eventually need a heart transplant. In 2021, he went into heart failure. After that, he was in and out of the hospital multiple times. Jennifer says once he was placed on the transplant list, he spent eight and a half months, broken up over two and a half years, waiting on a heart.
Scott received his new heart in January of 2024, on a day that will always have a special meaning.
“Scott received his heart transplant on Matthew’s birthday, so that kind of tied those two boys together,” said Jennifer.
Jennifer says she did not know what to expect because she had been so used to his heart condition. Now, she says the family must live with a new situation and set of rules. Jennifer says the difference between Scott is impressive since he had his heart transplant.
“He can participate in the band; he can march in the band,” said Jennifer. “He walked around Legoland. He can run up and down stairs. He’s able to live a real life now, with limitations and precautions, but nothing like it was before.”
Scott, now 15, is also back in school and has traveled since his heart transplant. He has been to Legoland in Florida and is preparing for a trip to Hawaii later this year. He enjoys riding his four-wheeler and swimming.
Jennifer offers this advice to another mother who is awaiting a heart transplant for their child.
“This is not a journey for the lighthearted,” said Jennifer. “It is not fun to have to travel through this, but the reward is to see your child do the things they have never been able to do. It is hard in the beginning, but it is so worth it. Just hang on.”
Click this link to learn more about Scott and Matthew’s friendship outside the hospital.
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