At their 20-week ultrasound, childhood sweethearts and newlyweds Jenny and Cody Chapas were watching their future come into focus—tiny fingers, curled toes, the unmistakable shape of their son.

“We were so amazed at the image on the screen,” shares Jenny. “It was so exciting.”

What they couldn’t see was the irregularity in his heart. Within days, their joy turned to fear.

Their doctor referred the worried parents to St. Joseph’s Hospital for in-depth imaging, which revealed a frightening diagnosis: TAPVR, a congenital heart condition that meant the veins carrying oxygen-rich blood to James’ heart weren’t connected as they should be.

“Up until that point my pregnancy was proceeding normally,” explains Jenny. “And in a matter of days, I was considered a high-risk pregnancy and was told my baby would need surgery at some point after birth.”

The couple tried to stay upbeat. They did their own research and trusted their doctors at St. Joseph’s. Relieved to learn this condition wasn’t uncommon and could be corrected, they were still understandably concerned about what could happen.

In addition to her regular checkups, Jenny now had to go for monthly fetal echocardiograms to monitor her baby’s condition and make sure things remained stable.

“It was definitely stressful because I wondered what else they might see.”

As time went on, the scans didn’t reveal anything new. However, things quickly took an unexpected turn when Jenny went into labor a month before her due date. Little James made his entrance into the world a few hours later.

“I was able to hold him for about 60 seconds after he was born, then they needed to bring him for more tests.”

Though they’d been hoping for more time before his first surgery, Jenny and Cody placed their trust in James’ medical team without hesitation.

“Coming to the hospital every month for tests made us confident James was in the best of hands,” said Jenny. “We knew he would be well taken care of just by the way they took care of us during every visit.”

Waiting while their newborn was in open-heart surgery felt endless. Jenny and Cody appreciated getting updates throughout the hours-long procedure. It helped ease some of their anxiety. 

Fortunately, James came through with flying colors.  When they finally saw him, they were overwhelmed. His tiny chest rose and fell beneath a web of tubes and wires.  There was no other movement since he’d been placed in medically induced coma to give his body time to heal. 

“He looked so fragile,” Jenny says. “It was hard to imagine a day when I would hold him.”

But throughout the journey, James’ nurses and doctors were right there by the family’s side, explaining everything that was going on and sharing encouraging words about his progress.

Finally, after a week of watching and waiting, Jenny was able to hold James for the first time. And eleven days after his surgery, he was ready to go home.

Jenny can’t say enough about the care her son – and her family – received. She remembers speaking with Dr. Jarrod Knudson, Medical Director of St. Joseph’s Children’s pediatric cardiac ICU.

“He told me that an important component of the training his team members receive is to treat patients and their families like members of their own. And it was very clear from day one this wasn’t just something they said, it was something they practiced. We felt it from every single person we encountered.”

Even though it was one of the most difficult times of their lives, Jenny is quick to point out the warm and welcoming atmosphere that surrounded them. From patiently answering questions at all hours, to providing emotional support, to personalizing James’ incubator to brighten the mood, Jenny can’t say enough about what the St. Joseph’s team did for them.

“Initially I was so focused on making sure James received the best medical care, I didn’t realize how important their kindness and compassion was to his recovery – and to our mental state. They cared for us, not just James’ heart.”

Today, thanks to the expertise of the doctors and nurses at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, James is a thriving five-month-old who is meeting all his milestones with a bright future ahead of him. And according to his grateful mom, to look at him you would never know he had such a rough beginning.

“From the moment they diagnosed him to the moment they fixed his heart – and even after we went home – every step has been a wow moment,” Jenny says. “They didn’t just save our son’s life; they carried our family through the scariest days we’ve ever known.”