The day after Charlie was born, his pediatrician found something wrong with his heart. Charlie was transferred to Nationwide Children’s where he was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. His parents learned that in order for their son to survive, he would need three open-heart surgeries before he was three years old. They were terrified. However, when Dr. Mark Galantowicz came to talk to them, they immediately felt confident in his abilities to take good care of their son.

Charlie had his first surgery at five days old and his second at five months old, recovering from both without complications. Over the next several months, his parents saw a special, brave little soul emerging. A few months before turning three, he had his third surgery.

Here at Nationwide Children’s, we are a leader in pediatric care. We offer cardiology services, cardiothoracic surgery, and everything else you would expect to find at a nationally-renowned heart center.

Charlie did great after his third surgery, and things were pretty normal for quite a few years. Then, in the fall of 2013 when Charlie was nine, he was diagnosed with Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE). PLE causes proteins in the body to leak and as a result, patients experience fluid retention as well as growth, immune, and digestive issues.  Charlie battled acute symptoms of PLE for over a year, but is now symptom-free and considered to be in “remission.” Although small for his age due to PLE, Charlie is a gifted student with great friends and was the only seventh grader to make the middle school golf team last year. He even made it to the middle school golf championships, with only six golfers selected to participate.

“Nationwide Children’s means everything to us. They have given Charlie the chance to have a normal, happy life,” says Charlie’s mom Donna.

Charles means “Brave” and his middle name, Vincent, means “Warrior.”  Charlie has proven time and time again, that he is a Brave Warrior and so much more.

https://flutter.nationwidechildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Charlie-Johnson-Flutter.jpg

• Name: Charlie J.Charlie Johnson
• Condition(s): Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
• Age at Treatment: At Birth

The day after Charlie was born, his pediatrician found something wrong with his heart. Charlie was transferred to Nationwide Children’s where he was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. His parents learned that in order for their son to survive, he would need three open-heart surgeries before he was three years old. They were terrified. However, when Dr. Mark Galantowicz came to talk to them, they immediately felt confident in his abilities to take good care of their son.

Charlie had his first surgery at five days old and his second at five months old, recovering from both without complications. Over the next several months, his parents saw a special, brave little soul emerging. A few months before turning three, he had his third surgery.

Here at Nationwide Children’s, we are a leader in pediatric care. We offer cardiology services, cardiothoracic surgery, and everything else you would expect to find at a nationally-renowned heart center.

Charlie did great after his third surgery, and things were pretty normal for quite a few years. Then, in the fall of 2013 when Charlie was nine, he was diagnosed with Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE). PLE causes proteins in the body to leak and as a result, patients experience fluid retention as well as growth, immune, and digestive issues.  Charlie battled acute symptoms of PLE for over a year, but is now symptom-free and considered to be in “remission.” Although small for his age due to PLE, Charlie is a gifted student with great friends and was the only seventh grader to make the middle school golf team last year. He even made it to the middle school golf championships, with only six golfers selected to participate.

“Nationwide Children’s means everything to us. They have given Charlie the chance to have a normal, happy life,” says Charlie’s mom Donna.

Charles means “Brave” and his middle name, Vincent, means “Warrior.”  Charlie has proven time and time again, that he is a Brave Warrior and so much more.