The Herald-News - Print Story

It's not every day that a 2-year-old boy goes in for open-heart surgery. But it's even less common to have his grandmother's school co-workers rally around him offering prayers and support and even donning t-shirts saying, "Bless Jake's Heart."

Jacob White, the son of Rhea County natives Jennifer and David White, was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome six months after he was born. The condition caused a heart valve complication that necessitated his heart surgery.

"It's a fairly routine surgery to the doctors, but it's risky for us," said Jacob's grandmother Beverly Revis.

Jacob's heart surgery is scheduled for Wednesday at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
He will travel from his Nashville home with nearly a dozen family members, but he'll have a vast support system here in Rhea County too.

His mother came up with the idea of designing t-shirts for friends and family to wear on the day of Jacob's surgery.

"The t-shirt was a way to build support and raise money for the trip to Michigan," said Jennifer.

Jacob's grandmother is a reading coach at Rhea Central Elementary School, and when she and her colleagues got wind of the t-shirt project, the faculty and staff bought over 100 shirts.

"We have been overwhelmed with their generosity," Revis said on Wednesday. "It is very heartwarming and comforting."

"I am very proud of everyone here at Rhea Central and the way they've pulled together to support the family," added Anita Edwards, a fellow reading coach at the school.

Jacob's paternal grandparents, Phil and Marge White of Grandview, also sold shirts at their workplace, La-Z-Boy.

Jennifer said she never expected to sell as many shirts as she did - nearly 400 in total.

"[Jacob's surgery] sounds like the worst thing ever, but we've been so blessed," said Jennifer.

"It's just been a great project, helping people keep busy instead of dwelling on what's ahead," she said. "Down the road, I'll say to Jacob, 'Look what these people did for you.'"

Williams Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that causes medical and developmental problems including sensitive hearing, learning disabilities and small, widely spaced teeth. An excessively social personality is characteristic of Williams Syndrome as well, as Jacob's mother can attest to.

"He smiles with his whole face," said Jennifer.

The majority of individuals with the condition have some type of heart or blood vessel problem, and in Jacob's case, Williams Syndrome has caused an aortic stenosis. This occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows. The narrowing prevents the valve from opening fully, obstructing blood flow throughout the body.

The heart thus works harder to pump blood, which weakens it and can require surgery to replace the valve.

Michelle Friesen can be reached at michelle.friesen@rheaheraldnews.com.