Baby Tillman Gets “The Gift Of Life” On Super Bowl Sunday

Little Tillman Chesney was born in April 2006 with a rare heart disorder that normally requires several surgeries to repair. Because of his condition, Tillman and his mom, Jody, never got the chance to leave the hospital for home. Instead, they traveled to the Medical University in Charleston, SC (MUSC) for treatment. Soon after their arrival, the Chesneys learned that only a heart transplant could save their son’s life. Jason, Tillman’s father, explains, “He was basically born with half a heart…the main pumping chamber that pumps blood to the heart was non-existent.”

So along with the over 650 others in SC waiting on a life saving organ, Tillman went on the transplant waiting list. Jody moved to Charleston to stay by Tillman’s side.  Jason, in order to provide for his family, remained in Simpsonville, SC.  It’s been over a year now, and the Chesney family is still not able to live together on a full-time basis.  But they accept the situation with a positive and unfailing resolve, waiting for the day they can all return home as a family.

Several months passed after Tillman’s diagnosis and at Halloween with Tillman needing a new heart, a family friend had an idea for a costume. Jason remembers the suggestion, “She said he should be the Tin Man for Halloween because the Tin Man needed a heart and Tillman needs one too!” Jody and Jason loved the idea, and from that point on, Tillman’s nickname became “The Tin Man”.

Though Tillman lives with a serious heart condition, he’s still excited and fascinated by everything around him, just like every other little baby boy. “One of his favorite things is a Clemson tiger mobile,” his father explains, “…it has five little stuffed tigers and it goes around and it plays the Tiger Rag of course.”

But Tillman is not a normal baby boy; he came into this world having to fight for his life.  “Oh…he’s the toughest…little guy I’ve ever met.  He’s tougher than his father…more resilient than any person I’ve ever seen…rather amazing!” says proud father, Jason.

Christmas of 2006 came and went with no gift of a new heart for the little Tin Man.  But like the fighter that he is, Tillman continued to prove how tough he could be to everyone. Another month passed. It was Super Bowl Sunday of 2007 ~ the day that the parents of the Tin Man will never forget. Jason remembers it well, “…like the Tin Man, he got his heart…he finally met the Wizard…we are so excited about that…it’s one big hurdle out of the way!”

But after almost 12 hours of surgery, his new heart wouldn’t function properly.  Tillman was put on a machine called EKMO to help his heart get stronger. Days passed and just as he had done all along, Tillman continued to fight.  After begin taken off the EKMO machine, Tillman began to get stronger and stronger.

Weeks went by with Tillman showing some improvement almost every day. Soon he was strong enough to give his Dad a BIG surprise. Tillman was finally able to go outside and experience the sunshine on his little face for the very first time.

Jason recalls that day, “ If you have ever imagined the day…something that you wanted to happen so bad…and you dream about it and dream about it… and that day comes…and it’s exactly as good or better than the way you imagined it or always wanted it to happen…that was the day for me.” He adds, “Even that little simple experience that no one probably every thinks about…but that was important to me.  That he got to feel the sun on his face.”

Soon, Tillman was well enough to leave the hospital for a temporary home near MUSC, and on his 1^st birthday, he spent the night out of the hospital for the first time.  Jason recalls that no one slept much that first night, “This is our only child, so you have the first parent jitters on top of having a child…with intense special needs.” 

Unfortunately, the rollercoaster of life continued for Tillman, and after just two nights away, he went back into the hospital.  But Tillman continues to fight like no other. After a few weeks, Tillman was able to once again, leave the hospital on the Friday before Memorial Day, 2007.  The plan is for Tillman to stay close to the hospital for several months to monitor his progress. If all goes well, he will be able to go home to his nursery filled with stuffed animals and matchbox cars soon!

Waiting for the day that Tillman can finally go home, Jason is thankful to the organ donor that gave the gift of life to his son. “I would say it is the last good thing you can do on earth,” says Jason, “which is truly giving of yourself…and the lives you would touch could be possibly more lives than you could touch in any other way while here on earth.” 

Story Update:
On June 28^th, little Tillman finally moved into the nursery that his parents had wanted to see him in for over a year.  This is the day Jody and Tillman returned home to Simpsonville and began living with Jason fulltime.  This is just another big milestone in the life of a special little boy and his family.  Tillman still has an uphill climb, but as he did while in the hospital, he continues to have the will to overcome his challenges.