On February 24 2023, sixteen-year-old Tucker Sorensen was helping the Oldroyd family work cattle in Vernal.  He was pushing bulls up the alley all day with no problems. When they finished the bulls, however, he did not feel well.

 

His mom Shilo took him to Urgent Care, where they found out his heart rate was extremely high. After an EKG showed some irregularities, his mom took him to Primary Children’s Hospital. Upon getting to Primary Children’s walk-in clinic, they immediately admitted him to the ICU. They explained he had Dilated Cardiomyopathy and 10% function. Previously always healthy, Tucker was in complete heart failure.

 

As time went on, the Sorensen family learned that Tucker also had blood clots in his lungs and some lung damage. He lost over 50 pounds in three weeks. He had a high-risk surgery where doctors removed lymph nodes around his heart. After a massive struggle to get him on the heart transplant list, multiple complications, and high-risk procedures (involving flown-in medical specialists), on April 16 Tucker underwent surgery for a heart transplant. He had to stay out in the city until mid-July, when he was finally allowed to come home to Fruitland. 

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The Sorensen family has been very gracious in expressing their gratitude to the donor and their family, as well as people in our local community who have offered their support. 

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Tucker’s medical journey is far from over. He will remain on medication the rest of his life, with continued doctor’s visits. He is still making multiple trips to Salt Lake every single week. Tucker has been so strong and brave and tough. With mounting medical bills and an uncertain future, the Sorensens need our help! Anything you can do to support this wonderful family will be very much appreciated.