“Every day is a journey.” Stephenville High School senior awaits heart transplant.

Jayce Gazaway

 Special to Beneath the Surface News

Stephenville resident Haley Esslinger is the mother of 17-year-old Jayce Gazaway, who is about to begin his senior year of high school while waiting for a heart transplant.

Haley says she wants to be a listening ear for other parents who may be facing a similar medical crisis.

“As children are preparing to return to school, I would love to send out a message to remind those children that just because someone looks different or has a disability, to please be kind.”

This is Jayce's story told from his mother’s perspective...

I'll never forget the late June night Jayce sent me a desperate message: "Mom, I think I'm dying."

He was staying at his grandparents’ home, and his words sent a chill down my spine. As he described his symptoms, I knew I had to act fast.

I packed up and drove to Blanket, Texas, from Stephenville, to bring him to safety.

The doctors initially diagnosed him with a rare flu, given the time of year. But as his symptoms lingered despite treatment, my instincts told me something was off.

I took him to see his primary care physician week after week, but the answers didn't add up.

The ER visits were just as frustrating – "It's just a virus" or "the pneumonia needs to run its course," but Jayce's symptoms worsened.

He couldn't lie down, breathe or sleep.

I knew we needed a different approach. That's when we ended up at a renowned children's hospital, only to be told the same story – uncontrolled asthma and lingering pneumonia.

The trip home was a blur, but I knew I had to push for more answers.

A follow-up appointment in August with Jayce's primary care physician changed everything.

She listened, and her concern was palpable. She called the ER doctor, and suddenly, we were racing against time.

New tests revealed a blood clot, and the CT scans showed clear lungs even though Jayce could not breathe.

Before I knew it, we were on our way to another hospital, and Jayce was admitted to the cardiac floor.

The diagnosis still haunts me – a blood clot in his left ventricle, dilated cardiomyopathy, and end-stage heart failure.

The doctors prepared me for the worst, but I refused to give up.

Jayce fought through every treatment, every medication and every procedure.

The transfers from hospital to hospital, the placement of an Impella device, the LVAD open heart surgery – each step forward was a battle.

Recovery was grueling, but Jayce persevered. He relearned how to walk, and we spent months living at the Ronald McDonald House, praying for a speedy recovery.

After five long months - on Dec. 20, 2024 - we received a Christmas miracle; Jayce was able to come home, but the journey was far from over.

As other seniors are preparing for their last exciting school year at Stephenville High School, Jayce is preparing for numerous doctor appointments, new medication regimens, countless trips to Children’s Medical Center Dallas, and ultimately, the gift of life.

Jayce is still fighting, still pushing through the challenges of heart failure.

He's determined to make his wishes come true and prepare for a heart transplant.

As his parents, we will be right by his side, cheering him on every step of the way.

No child should have to face what Jayce is facing, but he's proving to be a warrior in every sense of the word.

The latest...

Jayce will not begin his senior year of high school this week along with his classmates because he currently has a PICC line.

Jayce is now home after another recent stint in the hospital.

“Every day is a journey,” Haley said.

Jayce made the decision yesterday, Aug. 9, to be placed on the heart transplant list.

His doctors say the process to receive a new heart will likely happen within the next 30 days because Jayce will be placed at the top of the list.

So for now, the family waits.