2025 Initiative

Aiden Douglas Zumwalt was born on the last day of 2008 like a firework that burst into the lives of all who knew him, illuminating the world with his exuberant spirit, dapper good looks and infectious smile. We delivered what we thought was a perfect and healthy baby boy, however around 23 hours after birth Aiden became cyanotic, turning blue and quite hypoxic. We would soon learn that our precious boy was born with Heterotaxy syndrome, a rare condition which included multiple congenital heart and abdominal defects. Aiden underwent his first open heart surgery at 1 week of age, the following day Aiden went into circulatory arrest and was placed on ECMO for the next several days. It was discovered that Aiden suffered a stroke during this period. Aiden overcame so many obstacles that a newborn could ever endure in an extremely fragile state. His name means "fiery one" and without a doubt it was very fitting because he never stopped fighting to be in this world! Unfortunately, Aiden suffered a second circulatory arrest prior to his bi-ventricular heart repair when he was just 4 months old. He once again was placed on ECMO, and with this life saving measure comes great risks and Aiden's brain suffered the consequences including a diffuse anoxic injury from his second arrest. We were given very grim news about Aiden's neurological prognosis less than 12 hours before he was scheduled to go into major open heart surgery. As parents you can never prepare yourselves to hear such devastating news about your perfect and precious baby, but instinctually you learn that instead of focusing on the "what-ifs", or the "should-of been" to lean in on living in the present moment. Taking each and every day as it comes and cherishing all the small victories. Aiden went on to undergo dozens and dozens of surgeries and medical procedures throughout his almost 15 years of life, including emergent abdominal surgeries, orthopedic surgeries, ear, nose and throat surgeries, neuro and spine surgeries to name a few. We traveled far and wide to ensure that Aiden was given every opportunity to flourish and grow to the best of our capabilities. We advocated every day on his behalf to give him a voice when others may not have seen or heard him fully. His smile would light up any room he entered, he had the ability to touch and warm anyone's heart that encountered our handsome boy. Aiden's courageous spirit was just too big for his sweet little body and he embarked on his grandest adventure on November 30, 2023 just one month shy of his 15th birthday. He was the perfect example of courage and strength and a light in this world that everyone deserves to experience. We will carry on Aiden's legacy to spread joy and love, and honor his courageous strength and will to fight always. Fly High Aiden!