{{{ “Mario was the first person I met who had heart problems the same as me. And he was the first other kid that I met at UCLA hospital. We became friends then and there when we were young. We’re really close and I don’t think that we’ll ever, like, grow apart and go two separate ways. It’s different from pretty much everyone else’s friendships.

“I like it better when Mario comes here because then we don’t fight. I share a lot more than he does, and all heck doesn’t break loose when he comes over here. We were playing poker and I won, so he punched me in the stomach. I could barely breathe. I don’t think he really meant it.

“He said the 'F' word, too.” – (dylan)


Dylan, pictured at 11 years old; Sub-Pulmonary Stenosis, Single Ventricle, L-Transposition, Implanted Pacemaker.

For more information or to buy the book, please visit heartkidsproject.org or CSHL Press.