Jace The heart of a warrior: Tiny but mighty.

Jace is a twin whose journey began before birth. At his 20-week scan, his family learned he has Isolated Dextrocardia, meaning his heart is on the right side of his chest instead of the usual left. Initially, doctors said this wouldn’t be an issue, but follow-up testing revealed additional congenital heart defects, including TAPVR to the coronary sinus and two septal defects (ASD and VSD).

Born on September 11, 2025, Jace faced immediate challenges. He was transferred via Life Flight to Iowa City Stead Children’s Hospital, where he spent 33 days awaiting open-heart surgery. During that time, he experienced collapsed lungs, heart failure, and multiple life-support measures. His surgery was unprecedented — no known cases existed for his unique anatomy — but the surgical team was confident, and Jace fought bravely.

On October 14, 2025, Jace underwent open-heart surgery to reroute his pulmonary veins and repair the septal defects. The surgery was a success, and he spent several weeks recovering in the hospital, relearning to breathe and eat while his family stayed by his side.

Now home, Jace continues to grow stronger every day. He still has a feeding tube and regular check-ups, but he is thriving and proves that even the smallest warriors can overcome enormous challenges.

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