Mon Oct 25, 2021 – 8:41 am EDT
(Live Action) – Zion Sarmiento, born with Down syndrome, has died at less than four months old after multiple hospitals refused him a heart transplant.
On June 15, 2021, Zion was born to Josh and Bobbi Sarmiento. In addition to having Down syndrome, Zion was born with a complete atrioventricular canal defect (CVAC), or a large hole in the center of his heart. For children with Down syndrome, CVAC is not unusual, and with open-heart surgery, is often able to be repaired.
The goal for Zion was, at first, to get him to four months old so he could be as strong and healthy as possible for the surgery. After spending 40 days in the NICU, he was allowed to go home before beginning to see his cardiologist. They decided to perform his surgery at three months old, on September 20.
Unfortunately, the surgery did not go as planned. Zion went into cardiac arrest, and was placed on life support. His surgical team continued trying to help, with five more surgeries performed in just 12 days. They determined that Zion’s best hope would be a heart transplant, and his family began
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