Never alone: a journey through heart surgery

You are not alone. That’s the message the Spafford family of Lake City has for other kids and parents facing health issues. It’s not always an easy road, but there’s always hope for tomorrow.
Landon Spafford was born with Down Syndrome on Sept. 24, 2004. He underwent his first heart surgery on Dec. 23 of that same year, and his first open heart surgery was in May 2005. Since then he’s had his pulmonary valve replaced, as well as several other operations. But this fall, his life was threatened like never before.
His heart stopped. Mother Wendy Spafford tells the story in her own words below: the journey from ER to PICU, through heart surgery, and safely back home with a pacemaker, where Landon is once again healthy and happy. “You do feel like you’re alone sometimes,” Spafford said, “but if you look around, there’s other parents with their kids going through some tough times too.” You are not alone.
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