Brooks' Journey: A Heartfelt Tale of Hope, Strength, and Resilience.1994
Today, Brooks Klingsporn, a happy and healthy 1-and-a-half-year-old, continues to amaze everyone with his resilience and strength. However, his journey hasn’t been easy. In fact, it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, challenges, and triumphs, as he’s already undergone more heart surgeries than most people experience in their lifetime, including one before he was even born.
Brooks' story began in 2022 when his mother, Lauren, found out she was pregnant with him on Halloween. At the time, she and her husband, Alex, were living in Dallas, Texas with their two older children. Having had two healthy pregnancies in the past, Lauren was expecting her third pregnancy to be just as smooth. Genetic testing had been done for all of their pregnancies, and when they tested for Brooks, everything seemed fine. But at her 20-week anatomy scan, the unexpected news came: the left side of Brooks’ heart wasn’t functioning properly.
This marked the beginning of a journey no parent could ever prepare for. The couple was referred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, who diagnosed Brooks with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
According to Dr. Shaine Morris, the medical director of fetal cardiology at Texas Children's Hospital, HLHS affects approximately 1 in 5,000 newborns in the U.S. and is one of the most severe congenital heart diseases. To make matters more complicated, Brooks also had a
Lauren and Alex were faced with a difficult decision: to wait and hope that Brooks would be born stable enough to undergo surgery or opt for comfort care. The couple sought a second opinion and learned about a groundbreaking procedure called
This novel procedure, which involved placing a tiny stent in Brooks’ heart to open the atrial septum and relieve pressure, had shown promise in improving survival rates for babies with HLHS and a restricted atrial septum. With the advice and support of the medical team, Lauren agreed to undergo the surgery at 30 weeks pregnant.
The surgery, done under an epidural while Lauren remained awake, lasted five hours. "It was mind-blowing," Lauren says. "I couldn’t feel anything, but the idea of them performing surgery on my baby while he was still inside me was incredible." The team used ultrasound guidance to insert an amniocentesis needle and place a balloon and stent to relieve pressure in Brooks’ heart. The procedure was a success, and after follow-up scans showed improvements in his lungs, the family was hopeful that Brooks could make it to full-term.
However, Brooks’ journey wasn’t over yet. At 36 weeks, doctors discovered a clot in his heart, which led to an emergency C-section. Brooks was born on Mother's Day, May 12, 2024
The first few months were filled with numerous tests, surgeries, and complications, but Brooks remained strong. He underwent heart catheterizations to check for additional issues with his heart, and while recovery was difficult, he began to make progress. "The things you should have been working on as a newborn, he’s now trying to learn six months later, but he caught on," Lauren says. "He’s doing amazing."
Now, at 1-and-a-half years old, Brooks has already undergone two open-heart surgeries, and a third surgery is planned for when he’s about four years old. Despite the challenges, Brooks continues to grow, learn, and develop. "The doctors have given us hope that Brooks is going to make it through to the next stage and get to grow up with his brother and sister," Lauren says. "And for that, we’re incredibly thankful."
The family recently relocated to Houston, Texas, to be closer to Brooks’ care team. They have also begun to celebrate the everyday milestones that many parents may take for granted. Brooks is now in daycare, experiencing the joys of being a "normal" child, and his parents couldn’t be more grateful.
"One of the most powerful things about this journey has been the support we’ve received from the medical team and the community," says Alex. "We will never forget not only the doctors but the nurses, the therapists, and everyone who has been there for us, keeping our spirits up."
Brooks’ story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, the power of medical innovation, and the unwavering love of parents. Despite the struggles, the uncertainty, and the hurdles, Brooks has shown everyone that miracles are possible. With the love and support of his family and care team, Brooks is thriving, proving that even the most difficult beginnings can lead to a bright future.
We are so thankful for the journey so far, and we know that with continued care and support, Brooks will keep showing the world just how strong and resilient he truly is.
