Mile 9

Shelby and Devin Crawford had been hoping to have a baby for five years before Shelby finally became pregnant in January 2024. Early in her pregnancy, routine ultrasounds showed their son, Cyrus, was developing well—until a 20-week scan revealed problems seeing his heart clearly. Further testing confirmed that Cyrus had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a rare and serious heart defect requiring multiple surgeries. Though the news was overwhelming, Shelby and Devin remained hopeful, supported by their medical team at Manning Family Children’s and their close family.

Cyrus was born via emergency C-section at 37 weeks after complications arose, and he was quickly transferred to the NICU for specialized care. At just four days old, he underwent the Norwood procedure, the first of three critical heart surgeries, followed months later by the Glenn procedure. Despite a scare with heart failure caused by myocarditis, timely medical treatment helped stabilize him. Throughout, Shelby and Devin relied heavily on the hospital’s expert care team and home monitoring support, which gave them confidence during this challenging journey.

Now nine months old, Cyrus is thriving—gaining weight, crawling, and growing stronger each day. While he will need a final surgery called the Fontan procedure between ages 3 and 5, his family remains optimistic and grateful for the compassionate care they’ve received. The Crawfords encourage others facing similar challenges to have faith, be patient, and cherish every milestone along the way.