Defying the Odds

Story by Eric Baker

The odds for a baby born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is pretty rare–one in 3,841 babies. Having TWO babies from the same parents born with heart defects is rarer still. Yet despite this, Carlie Crain, recent BSDI alum, and her little brother, Case, are survivors.

Carlie was born with six different heart defects, the most severe being HLHS. With HLHS, the left ventricle of the heart wasn’t formed at birth and this affects the blood flow through the heart and throughout the entire body. She has had three open heart surgeries, countless doctor’s appointments and medical imaging, and a multitude of different medications in her young life. Yet, despite this, Carlie's faith and the love of her family keep her strong."

“Because of what I live with every day, and will continue to live with for the rest of my life, I feel I’m called to spread the same hope and compassion to other families facing grave medical conditions. My mom was told that I wouldn’t make it after I was born, but she refused to abort because she had hope.”

Carlie was raised in Morrisville, Missouri, a small town north of Springfield. She is a youth leader and part of the worship team at Harold Baptist Church. She loves spending time with family and going to rodeos with her fiancé, Wyatt.

“I’ve been told I’ll eventually need a heart transplant, but I’ve been blessed to be able to have a fairly active life. It doesn’t scare me.”

Carlie recently took a position as an ultrasound technologist at Mercy Orthopedic and Mercy Bolivar. She believes that her education at Cox College helped prepare her for successful career.

“I had a lot of people telling me how amazing the program was at Cox College. I wanted the best education for where I dreamt I wanted to be. I did my research and Cox College really stuck out to me. The faculty and students were great. I’ve made some great relationships.”

Carlie hopes to continue with her education, getting certifications in Echo, fetal echocardiography, and musculoskeletal. “Anything I can do to further my education and give me more opportunities, that’s what I want to do.”

She would also like to become a medical missionary. Several years ago, she went with a youth group to White River, Arizona. That experience opened her eyes. “These kids had absolutely nothing, some being homeless, but they always had a smile on their faces.”

My mom was told that I wouldn’t make it after I was born, but she refused to abort because she had hope.

Carlie and her brother, Case Carlie's fiance, Wyatt