A South Florida family has not lost sight of just how incredible their son’s survival is after he was born with multiple congenital heart conditions and heterotaxy syndrome.
Nesanel Estrin, whose family calls him Nissi, only has half a heart and his internal organs were all in the wrong places when he was born.
His parents, Rabbi Ellie Estrin and Chaya Estrin, were told that Nissi likely wouldn’t survive child birth and even if he did, he’d need open heart surgery within six hours.
Nissi recently turned 3, which is a big deal for him and his family.
The Estrin family was living in Seattle when they got pregnant with their beloved son.
But the baby, they would eventually learn, had a series of health issues, including potentially fatal heart conditions.
But, against all odds, Nissi was born on Feb. 8, 2016, and, within a week, had his first open heart surgery.
While he was recovering in the hospital, his parents got a phone call from a doctor who said chest compressions were being done on their baby boy, who doctors believed had gone into cardiac arrest.
Nissi was kept alive by machines for weeks, but he pulled through.
Since then, he’s had two more open heart surgeries and the family has moved to South Florida.
“It would have been very easy to say, ‘Enough is enough,'” said Dr. Anthony Rossi, of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Rossi, the director of cardiology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, now oversees Nissi’s care and said his survival is astounding.
“The risks were so high that it would be easy to have said, ‘We’ve kind of done everything that we can. We’ve got to let nature take its course,'” he said.
So on Monday, the family celebrated Nissi’s birthday, surrounded by their friends and loved ones, just thankful to see another year.
“Look where we could have been, look at this journey — all of the challenges and all of the struggles, they’re really non-existent,” Chaya Estrin said.
Nissi has one more surgery planned for this summer, and it is actually the least risky of all of the surgeries he’s had so far.
His doctors say he will need help from his family throughout his life. He is slightly developmentally delayed and needs a walker and gastrointestinal tube, but he is expected to continue thriving in spite of the odds against him and live a healthy life.
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Ellie and Chaya Estrin are amazing people. Not nuff said but gtg. 😉
So beautiful! May you have continued nachas always.
Adorable kid- an inspiration
Amazing!
Truely inspiring. I am a sister of a now 70 year old who “should not have been born” but has lived to raise beautiful children and now grandchildren. May HaShem grant such a long life to Nissi to 120.
Please preserve those precious photos by removing from the plastic sheeted album(s) and putting in archival albums.
Hashem is amazing!
Mazal tov! May G-d bless Nissi with many revealed blessings and everything!
At the doctor’s comments, “let nature take its course”… un such a society that we live in, Ashreinu that this precious neshama was born to chassidim and given the chance to live!!!
If anyone is interested in helping this incredible family find Nissi’s therapy you can donate via cashapp $2063713055
What a cutie!! Mazal tov you should continue having nachas from sweet Nissi 🙂
BS”D beautiful story, may his parents dance at his Chasina
(would love to be there)
So beautiful! Tons and tons of nachas!! And good health!!
Mazeltov mazeltov. What a lovely little boy.
What a fighter! Have much Nachas from your adorable boy
This is so very special! It brings tears to my eyes. My Eli also has Heterotaxy Syndrome and with each milestone, with each Simcha it’s pure joy! Each day is a miracle with this syndrome. May Nissi continue to thrive and only see revealed good! Shnas Bracha V’hatzlacha!
Truly a inspirational man, and deserves all the brachos and Nachas from his whole family!
And of course, Mazal Tov and Boruch Hashem to his son Nissi!
Rabbi Estrin shared Nissis story with us at a Shabaton. His story made us all realize that the Rebbe is with us,that Hashem listens to,and answers our Tefilos,and that the koach of Emunah can indeed prevail against all odds . .
Nissi is probably one of the youngest mashpiim alive.!
May he continue to thrive bgashmius ubruchniyus. We hope his parents have a lot of nachas from him and all his siblings.
Thank you Rabbi Estrin for being a living example to all of us at the Shabbaton of Simcha Poretz Geder.
Your story continues to inspire us !
May Hashem continue to bench him! Such happy happy news
Hashem gave that super special neshama to 2 incredible and amazing parents. Keep it up guys! You were hand picked for this truly amazing journey. Kol hakavod.
Thank you hashem!
May you all just continue having such good news. A pleasure to see him smile. May you and your whole family only know from Simchas..
Mazal tov very special
Mazal Tov! So cute may u have naccas !