Meet Champion, Brinkley

At a 20-week ultrasound, Brinkley’s parents learned their baby had Down syndrome and Tetralogy of Fallot, a serious heart defect. Born six weeks early and weighing just 3.3 pounds, he spent seven weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before his first surgery to place a feeding tube. A few months later, his heart had deteriorated, leading to an emergency airlift to Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) for open-heart surgery. Just weeks later, Brinkley experienced complete heart block, requiring a second open-heart surgery and a pacemaker. His first year brought 26 weeks of hospital stays at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital for recurring respiratory issues. Over the years, he faced pneumonia, surgeries, and a pacemaker replacement. Brinkley recently underwent his fourth open-heart surgery, receiving a new valve and pacemaker. For the first time in his life, his heart function is normal. Now 12, he’s medication-free, thriving, and enjoying experiences he could never fully embrace before.