The 2019 Adelyn Rea Memorial Scholarship Winner Jesus Munoz
In December of 2000 at five weeks old Jesus’s parents were told their son had a heart defect called Truncus Arteriosus. Jesus’s heart defect meant he only had one single blood vessel instead of the normal two. This defect caused a large hole between his two heart chambers, causing Jesus’s body to not be receiving enough oxygen rich blood.
Jesus spent his first Christmas at Children’s Hospital and recovery took a toll on his lungs due to being weak and on a ventilator for an extended time period. This resulted in Jesus’s left vocal cord being paralyzed and for the rest of his life will have a softer voice.
Jesus then underwent his second heart surgery at age three.
At nine years old Jesus’s mother noticed him slowing down, breathing harder, and unable to keep up with his peers. This resulted in again more doctors’ appointments and test. At age ten Jesus underwent his third heart surgery.
Now a graduating senior from O’Neill High School in O’Neill, Nebraska Jesus still continues regular checkups with his cardiologist and annually wears a halter monitor to monitor his heart performance.
Jesus has never let his CHD hold him back from trying things. Jesus is an apprentice at the local John Deere dealership in O’Neill, a volunteer wrestling coach, and active in his church. Jesus plans to attend Southeast Community College and enroll in the John Deere program.
Jesus keep fighting and keep pursuing your dreams!