STS member Pirooz Eghtesady, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, has offered hope to the Palmer family whose son Jack was born Jan. 16, 2018, with serious congenital heart defects including hypoplastic left heart syndrome with an intact atrial septum and severely damaged lungs. Jack now needs a heart and lungs transplant.

According to Dr. Eghtesady, there’s no telling how long it will take to locate organs that are a good match for Jack.

“It’s tough,” Dr. Eghtesady said. “It’s not uncommon where I run into scenarios where I and other clinicians have to seriously discuss whether we should do something for a child or baby. But if I don’t, what’s the point of me doing what I’m doing? What’s the point of me being a physician?”

Read more about Jack and Dr. Eghtesady.