CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --Jackson Wilson is just shy of seven months old and he has spent most of his life at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.
"He's such a sweetie and he's so cute and he smiles all the time even though he's had so much done to him," says his mom Madison Hayes.
Little Jackson has survived two heart surgeries, the first when he was just four days old. Now, months later, he is hooked up to seven different machines that provide medicine, along with a chest tube.
Jackson has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, which means the left side of his heart is underdeveloped and will never work correctly.
At 19 weeks, Madison and Cody visited the doctor to get the big news: boy or girl on the way.
Instead the ultrasound and analysis revealed that their unborn child had a heart problem. A problem so serious, the baby might not make it.
But Jackson did make it, entering the world weighing seven pounds.
Four days later, on May 11, the tiny boy had his first major heart surgery.
Then at three and half months, he faced his second heart surgery.
Parents and experts agree that what Jackson needs now is a new heart.
"Once we finally get a heart for him, which is hopefully soon, we could never thank the parents enough, that donated," says Madison.
Madison spends every day by Jackson's side, thanks to the Ronald McDonald House located across from UVA Hospital.
Cody, Jackson's dad works every day, and visits between shifts.
"He loves Jackson, that's his boy," says Madison.
A Facebook page, Journey with Jackson, helps Madison process each day, and the encouraging messages and posts from strangers help her cope with the obstacles.
While a GoFundMe page has been set up, Madison says what she really wants is prayers and to spread awareness.
For more information about organ donation please go here.
Learn more about congenital heart defects here.
Madison says for now they are praying for a heart donation and hoping one day to take Jackson Wayne Wilson, home to Chester.
