IOWA CITY, Iowa — When Lucas Moore was born at a local hospital in Fort Dodge, doctors told his parents that he was born with a loud heart murmur. At 4 days old he was diagnosed with having a large hole in his ventricles and small atrial holes that would require surgery. He had open heart surgery at 3 months old. Lucas battled several severe infections over the next two years, the worst of which happened when he was 2 years old and his organs were failing. He was air lifted to a Des Moines Hospital where he stayed for three weeks. He would be air lifted to Des Moines two more times in an eight-month period.
Lucas was referred to University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital’s immunology department and was diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome, which results in poor development of several body systems and can result in a weakened immune system. He was diagnosed with velopharyngeal insufficiency, which caused his palate to be too short and wouldn’t close off his nasal cavity when he was speaking.
Read Lucas’ story here.