I thought I'd share this update on baby Dillion Sellers and family.
Marine in Calif. rejoins infant son who had heart transplant
ASSOCIATED PRESS 10:09 a.m., May 24, 2003
SAN DIEGO – When Marine Maj. Hal Sellers left for the war in Iraq, there were no guarantees that he would come home, or that his infant son Dillon would be there if he did.
The boy was born with an inoperable heart defect and needed a transplant to survive. His father left him with a prayer.
"I told him 'Hey, I love you' and that I wanted him to be here when I came back," Sellers recalled.
Dillon did what he was told. Sellers recently returned to Twentynine Palms and found the boy, now 7 months old, recovering from his March 12 surgery.
"I told him he's a good boy. He did what I asked him," Sellers said. "He's still here."
Sellers, 37, is second-in-command of the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion based in Twentynine Palms. The 13-year Marine chose to deploy with his troops about three months ago rather than accept a desk assignment that would have kept him close to his wife and baby as they waited and hoped for a heart to become available.
The decision attracted national media attention as well as some criticism. But with Dillon crying in the background, Sellers said Friday he had no regrets.
"I knew there wasn't anything I could personally do for Dillon," he said. "In my own mind, there were things I felt I could do for my fellow Marines. I certainly understand that people may have differing opinions. But I had to make the decision for myself."
While his choice was difficult, he points out that many men and women deployed and missed births, deaths and other important moments with their families.
"Everybody makes sacrifices. But you understand that when you join up," Sellers said. "Fortunately, everything worked out for the better."
Doctors said Dillon would have died without the transplant. Now, he is recovering from the procedure performed at Loma Linda University Medical Center and shows no signs of organ rejection or infection. He and his mother, Betsy Sellers, are staying in an apartment in Loma Linda so he can be close to the hospital in case of an emergency.
During Sellers' deployment, Dillon grew from 9 pounds to 17. He can now roll himself over and lift his head. He's also making cooing sounds that were impossible before his dad's deployment because of the constant need to use a respirator.
The child's time in the hospital has slowed his development slightly. But physical therapy sessions scheduled to begin soon should help that, Sellers said.
Everyday, the Sellers say a prayer for the parents of the child whose heart gave Dillon a second chance. They have not learned the identity of the child or the parents.
"We're incredibly grateful they made the decision they did, that something positive came out of their tragedy," Hal Sellers said.
The couple has two older sons, Alex, 8, and Erik, 6, who are happy to have their dad home and encouraged by the recovery of their baby brother.
Doctors will evaluate Dillon's progress in the coming week. If everything is going well, he could go home in early June.
Said Hal Sellers: "That would be a great Father's Day present."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20030524-1009-ca-afathersduty.html