Why would a doctor recommend parents take their child to a facility to live his life in the 1980s? Is there ever a good reason to take your child out of the hospital and take him to Disney instead? How did Peg trust her gut when it came to her son needing cardiac transplantation during COVID-19?

Peg Eitl is a mom of three children: Joe, 40, Jason, 36, and Lacey, 31. Joe was born with Down Syndrome and a single ventricle heart. Due to his medical complexity and intellectual disability, the doctors advised Peg and her husband Craig to put him in a facility but they would have none of it! 

Fortunately, they met with cardiologist Dr. Black who encouraged them and gave them hope for Joe. Over the next few years, the new parents worked tirelessly with their son, enrolling him in early intervention, therapies, and extra-curricular activities in between cardiac appointments and procedures including a B-T shunt at 11 months, a Modified Glenn and Fontan at 7 years of age. 

Throughout his health battle, Joe and his parents have worked together to achieve the best outcomes possible: Joe’s determination to survive drove him to be the best he could be, and his parents’ advocacy in pushing for the best treatment possible resulted in him being listed for a heart/ liver transplant. This was an especially trying time because they also had to deal with the complexities that COVID-19 required.

This episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna" features a mom to a special-needs heart warrior who fought valiantly to survive multiple heart procedures, complications, and transplantation. Peg talks candidly with Anna about some of the most significant struggles they've faced, the medical changes their family has seen over the last four decades, and her hopes for the future.



Helpful Information about Joe:

Facebook - TeamJoeEitl
Instagram - @TeamJoe Eitl
"Last Chance Transplant" Docuseries on Discovery Plus - Episode 3
Joe is also a featured character (DJ Dog) in a children's book on Inclusion called "The Fusion of Inclusion, Where Friends Meat" written by his best friend Mark Graham and Coach Sean Hanley
https://www.developmentalfitness.com/meatball-man-and-hoagie-boy

There is an article written by VUMC that can be found here:
https://news.vumc.org/2021/12/15/down-syndrome-patient-celebrates-anniversary-of-novel-transplant/

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