Toddler Crosses Borders To Get Life-Saving Surgery In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — A trip to a children’s hospital in New Jersey may have saved the life of a toddler who couldn’t get a critical surgery in his home country.

Nyle Eck, a 2-year-old from Belize, was born with a rare congenital heart disease called supravalvular pulmonary stenosis, a narrowing of the artery located just above the pulmonary valve – the main artery that carries blood to the lungs.

Eck was first diagnosed in September 2022, when he was only 3-months-old. He was able to have a cardiac procedure a few months later with the aid of Gift of Life NJ, a nonprofit that helps children with congenital heart defects to find medical care. But soon, Eck’s condition required another specialized surgery that wasn’t easily available in Belize.

And that’s where the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center came into the picture.

After a short wait, the Gift of Life NJ sponsored Eck to travel to the United States with his mother, Sheena Bernardez. Upon their arrival, he began treatment with the team of pediatric cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at the Newark-based hospital, which is the only pediatric heart surgery center in New Jersey.

It came in the nick of time, according to its director, Rajiv Verma.

“Without additional intervention, Nyle would have gradually developed worsening heart failure, restricting his ability to live like a normal, active child,” Verma said.

The decision was made to give Eck cardiac surgery, repairing his pulmonary artery and sending him on his way back to a healthy childhood.

Eck celebrated his second birthday while recovering in the pediatric ICU after his surgery, earning a discharge from the hospital soon afterwards – with the team at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center cheering him on all the way.

Eck will have an outpatient cardiology evaluation as a follow-up. As his cardiac recovery progresses, it is anticipated that he will be able to rejoin his two brothers and baby sister in Belize in the near future, hospital administrators said.

“Once Nyle’s name was added to the list, I was so excited to know that one day we would be here and he would have a chance at this life-saving procedure … but a little anxious at the same time,” his grateful mother said.

“We are so happy that he will be able to live a normal life,” she added. “I encourage parents to trust their gut and never take anything for granted.”

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