ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WKRG) — A 7-year-old boy born with a rare genetic heart defect is back in the hospital and his family is looking for the next steps.

About Fisher Nelson

WKRG News 5’s Rose Ann Haven previously talked with Fisher Nelson and his family in February 2023.

Fisher is described as “full of life and full of energy.” According to his father, Eric Nelson, he is always “running around playing and he never meets a stranger, really a joy to be around.”

However, according to past reporting, Fisher Nelson was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, also referred to as a broken heart, a rare genetic condition where “the left side of the heart does not form correctly.”

Throughout his life, Fisher has undergone three open-heart surgeries at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, with the first at just four days old.

Since his last surgery, Brooke Nelson, Fisher’s mom, said that aside from routine appointments for his heart condition, Fisher has lived a normal life.

What is happening now?

Now, “3 years since Fisher’s last open heart surgery,” the family has realized they need to get Fisher back to Houston for more treatment.

That’s because of what happened Easter Sunday.

In a Facebook post on Easter, Brooke McPherson Nelson shared that she found Fisher in the bathroom.

She wrote that he was “sweaty, pale, and all he could tell me was that his heart hurt and to hold him.

“As soon as Eric and I put our eyes on him, we knew something was definitely wrong that warranted a trip to the ER.”

The family rushed him to Sacred Heart Hospital, where doctors found he had elevated cardiac markers.

According to Nelson, the labs typically peak and then go down to normal levels. However, this morning Fisher’s labs were elevated again.

“After more tests and consulting his cardiology team in Houston, his team decided he needed to be transferred in order to determine the next course of action as there isn’t a hospital nearby that treats single ventricle patients,” Nelson shared in her post.

But, the family is running into some obstacles preventing further treatment.

Difficulties with Treatment

Although Fisher’s cardiac markers continue to be elevated, which Nelson shares is a sign that he needs to be in Houston “sooner than later,” that may not be possible.

She wrote in a Facebook post this afternoon, “The weather is not cooperating with us to fly to Houston at the moment “

In addition to flights being impossible to obtain at the moment, Brooke Nelson says that securing ground transport is proving to be difficult as well.

“Sacred Heart is working hard to get us transferred by ground, but several medical transportation services have declined due to distance. Please pray specifically that we can get to Houston today and that Fisher will remain stable.”

So, what’s next?

Since the family cannot make it to Fisher’s previous care team in Houston, Brooke Nelson shared that they are headed to UAB.

But they will see a familiar face at the hospital.

According to Nelson, the family reached out to pediatric cardiology specialist at UAB, Dr. Jonny Byrnes, who they met at WKRG’s Art for Heart event.

“The PICU team at Sacred Heart along with our pediatric cardiologist Dr. Theresa Roca, have taken the best care of Fisher and advocated for him in every way possible,” said Brooke Nelson.

“They have worked closely with the team at UAB to make the transfer as quickly as possible.”

Currently, the family reports that Fisher is “in good spirits” and awaits transfer to UAB.