Locklyn’s Determination Shines Through in Spite of Her Health Challenges

When newborn Locklyn was diagnosed with Down syndrome, a heart defect and an underdeveloped nasal septum, her parents turned to Children’s for comprehensive care across multiple specialties.

During her pregnancy, Lindy had a premonition her daughter would have special needs. She told her husband Kevin about the realistic dreams she’d been having. But it wasn’t until Locklyn was born that Lindy’s suspicion became more than a hunch.

Locklyn was born with Down syndrome. While the new parents weren’t entirely surprised, the diagnosis still took some time to accept. “You have an expectation of what your child’s going to be like. I had to grieve that child. But I was in love with this little human being that actually was our reality,” Lindy says.

Lindy and Kevin were quickly bombarded by information about Down syndrome. And then came more difficult news. “We got the curveball that evening that she was diagnosed with a heart condition,” Kevin recalls.

Locklyn had an atrial septal defect (ASD), a hole between the heart’s two upper chambers, as well as pulmonary hypertension. Then doctors discovered that she had choanal atresia; her nasal septum had not fully developed.

Locklyn required several surgeries and procedures in a short amount of time, including two open-heart surgeries and a surgery to repair her nasal septum. But through it all, she’s been a ray of light. She’s also proven to be quite determined. “Somehow, she learned to walk while she was hooked up to oxygen and a feeding tube,” says Lindy. “I have no idea how she did it.”

“Locklyn is a miracle child considering how much she’s been through,” adds pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. April Landry.

You can transform the lives of kids like Locklyn and many others for generations to come by including Children’s in your estate plan. To learn more, contact Ward Sullivan at 404-785-9809 or ward.sullivan@choa.org.