Oliver the strong

Oliver Eugene Elijah Klintworth was born February 6, 2018. Oh, Happy Birthday baby boy! 

But let’s rewind. The story doesn’t start there. Oliver’s little life began 9 months earlier. 

Positive Test: 

After months of trying to grow our family, I clutched the pregnancy test and squeezed my eyes shut. I remember thinking, “I trust you either way, Lord. I trust you either way.” And this time He said YES. Instant tears. I was HUMBLED to become Oliver’s mom in that moment. 

It’s true: 

Bloodwork and an early ultrasound proved the home test was right! We’re pregnant!! Baby K #2! Eleanor is going to be a big sister. Finally! We prayed so hard for this. Everything went along smoothly. I felt symptoms of pregnancy but none too overwhelming. Hearing Oliver’s heartbeat (especially for the first time) was music to my ears! It eased my anxious heart and calmed my hesitant nerves. Seeing his sweet face via ultrasound was like seeing a tiny piece of heaven- inside ME. Wow! What a gift to carry Oliver for 9 months. 

18 week Anatomy Scan: 

Boy! ALL boy! And boy oh boy did we celebrate! Gender reveal and all. I instantly fell in love with the idea of having a son. “Everything looked great, but they wanted to get a better look at the heart later.” No one seemed concerned at that point so we weren’t either. 

28 week Ultrasound: 

Normal morning, normal day. I even remember telling my neighbor that, “El gets to go to Nana’s house, Ryan & I get to see our precious son again and we even get to have a lunch date afterward. Everyone is happy!” Everyone WAS happy...until we heard these words, “Something is wrong with the baby’s heart.” 

World turned upside down: 

Less than 24 hours later we sat with a cardiologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital as he analyzed the fetal echo and gave Oliver a diagnosis of Double Inlet Left Ventricle. You can read about that CHD here: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007327.htm

World still upside down: 

The remainder of my pregnancy was spent making trips back and forth to Little Rock for specialist appointments until the day we packed our life (@ 38 weeks gestation) and relocated to Little Rock. So many tears. So much grief. But our grief was not void of hope. Thankfully, the rest of Oliver’s body continued to grow healthy and strong -but his heart did not. It was evident he would need immediate medical intervention at birth to save his life. 

Back to Oliver’s birth: 

As the doctors had diagnosed prenatally , Oliver was born with a complex CHD (congenital heart defect) called Double Inlet Left Ventricle. This CHD is 1 in 100,000. Oliver's first echo after birth showed his heart in even worse condition than the cardiologists originally thought. Another diagnosis was added called Criss Cross Ventricles- which occurs in 1/1,000,000 hearts. Oliver lived 47 days. His entire life was spent in the CVICU at ACH fighting for his life. The Drs planned to use a series of 2-3 surgeries to allow his single ventricle heart to beat and do the work of a whole heart. After 1 planned surgery and 1 emergent procedure it became clear that Oliver's heart would not beat to sustain his little life. On March 24, 2018 Oliver passed away in Ryan's arms. We believe Oliver went straight from his earthly father's arms to his Heavenly Father's. 

This ended Oliver’s life on this earth, but we are still here. As long as we have breath we will talk about our brave heart warrior for

Oliver lives on through his story we tell. 

Eulogy of a Heart Warrior:

Oliver Eugene Elijah Klintworth-

son, grandson, baby brother, child of God, world changer, heart warrior. 

Born into our hearts, where he will live forever, on February 6th, 2018. While his 47 days on earth were far too short, his legacy will live on in the lives of many for eternity. Like the lion, Oliver was fiercely strong and courageous, fighting hard and never giving up, rallying time and time again. Yet like the lamb, he was equally, sweet, gentle, and patient in his suffering. Oliver changed the world without saying a word, and united complete strangers together passionately praying around the clock and around the globe. As he fought for his own life, he changed the lives of so many. His broken heart journey healed hearts for eternity. What a huge accomplishment for such a tiny baby. 

As nurse after nurse and doctor after doctor came to Oliver’s room and wept and prayed over him, it was obvious the Lord used Oliver’s life for His glory. 

For 47 days, Oliver fought through 2 open heart surgeries, pokes and prods, lines and tubes numbering more than most ever experience in life, an emergency cath lab procedure, CPR, ECMO, infections, and a heart that was shocked and paced. He never gave up. In the end, it was simply time for him to rest in the loving arms of his Heavenly Father. 

For his dad, there is no greater pride than to have a son who has brought glory to God and spread the name and the power of Christ to so many. 

For his mom, Oliver taught her how to be brave and helped her discover an inner strength she didn’t know she had. 

Oliver may have lost his fight with CHD, but the victory is his in Christ. 

He was a living example of Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Now let us all go and live like Oliver the Strong.