Since he was a little boy, Robert dreamed of serving his country as a member of the United States military. When he graduated high school in 2014, he was ready to finally fulfill his dreams by joining the United States Marine Corps. However, Robert’s plans came to a halt when he failed the military’s medical screening exam.
After multiple tests, Robert was diagnosed with a heart murmur caused by congenital atrial septal defect (ASD).
“I felt like all of my dreams were crushed,” Robert said.
Robert’s cardiologist informed him that his ASD would require surgical repair and recommended The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.
Dr. Mumtaz, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, and his team met with Robert and his mother, Lattice, to explain the procedure.
“Robert’s surgeons were very encouraging and informative,” Lattice said. “We knew Robert was in the hands of people who truly cared about his well-being.”
Robert’s surgery went well, and he began to recover.
After about a year of recovery, Robert decided he would pursue his dreams one more time. He went back to the military recruiter and passed his medical screening exam with flying colors.
“Words cannot describe how grateful I am for my physicians at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio,” Robert added. “They made it possible for me to achieve my dreams.”
Robert has since graduated from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) in San Diego, and will soon begin his combat training as an expert shooter. He and Lattice recently visited Dr. Mumtaz and his team of surgeons to exchange hugs and express their gratitude.
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