Friends will rally for Howell infant
Baby underwent heart transplant in December
BY TOYNETT HALL
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Sandy Ennis her infant son, Christopher, at home in Howell on Feb. 1. Christopher, who was born Nov. 7, underwent a heart transplant in December at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Sandy Ennis wants people to know how thankful she is for an organ donation program that saved the life of her infant son, Christopher, in December.

"I want people to be more educated about congenital heart disease and the importance of organ donation. That is the only reason why my son is alive," she said.

Ennis and her husband, Craig, of Howell, are also the parents of a son, Ryan, 3. When Sandy was pregnant with Christopher last year the baby was diagnosed with a narrowing or obstruction of his heart's aortic valve.

Sandy and Craig were referred by pediatric cardiologist Dr. Elsa Castro, of Brick, to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where surgeons performed a fetal cardiac intervention procedure in July to save Christopher's life.

Sandy said Castro's quick and accurate diagnosis was critical since the fetal cardiac intervention procedure was time sensitive during the baby's development.

Christopher was born on Nov. 7 at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, and had to be resuscitated, she said. He was transferred to CHOP where, on Dec. 13, a heart transplant was performed.

Christopher, now 3 months old, has since come home to live with his mom, dad and brother.

When Sandy and Craig's neighbor and friend Mark Goodman heard what they were going through his first thought was that they were going to need some financial support.

With that in mind, Goodman and his wife, Susan, began to plan a benefit to help the Ennis family. They have garnered the support of the community and local businesses and have arranged to have a lunch buffet at Mulligan's bar and restaurant, 203 Squankum Road, Howell, on Feb. 24 from noon to 4 p.m.

The Goodmans are working to coordinate the benefit and trying to get the message out to as many people as they can about this special event that will be taking place.

Mark Goodman said Sandy and Craig have to focus on Christopher's needs.

"The last thing they need to worry about is money. This baby is going to need a lot of care," he said.

Although Sandy and Craig are grateful to the friends, neighbors and strangers who have stepped in to lend them a helping hand during this trying time, Sandy said they have taken a "financial hit."

"Due to Chris's illness I haven't worked for nearly a year," said Sandy, who is a registered nurse.

In addition to the loss of income, the family spends almost $500 each month traveling to and from Philadelphia to get Christopher's blood work and other medical procedures done.

"We don't know how bad it's going to be. We're still in the early stages," she said.

On the bright side, however, Sandy said Christopher is making significant progress.

"Since the transplant he has progressed incredibly. He now eats and breathes on his own. He acts and functions like a normal healthy baby," she said.

The Ennis family remains optimistic throughout this experience. Sandy said she wants everyone to know about Christopher's condition and the importance of organ donation.

In addition to the Feb. 24 benefit, the family has set up a trust fund in Christopher's name.