Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part story into a courageous journey of the heart.

July 18, 1975, Sandie and Neil B. Ahner Sr. of Palmerton welcomed their fourth child. Neil B. Ahner II was born at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown with a slight heart murmur. His parents were told he would outgrow it.The first week in January 1976, Neil was admitted to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia for three days to undergo the first of many cardiac catheterizations in the hope of determining the extent of his heart defect.A specialist from Deborah Heart and Lung did a catheterization and found six heart defects (a seventh was found later): an atrial septal defect, a ventricular septal defect, a hypoplastic right ventricle, tricuspid atresia (missing valve), pulmonary stenosis, transposition of the great arteries, and restriction of the pulmonary branches.His heart's upper chambers were reversed. The dividing walls in his heart were defective. He had been born with pulmonary stenosis, a condition that is similar to thickening of the arteries. With only one ventricle, the right ventricle had not developed properly and the lung arteries leading from his tiny, deformed heart were restricted.Doctors told his parents to take him home and love him because he wouldn't live to see his first birthday. His mother passed out from the news. Then she became determined to prove the doctor wrong.Sandie made all his baby food. He received no salt. She kept him away from crowds. He didn't visit Santa or the Easter Bunny if there were long lines. They didn't attend large family gatherings. He couldn't handle the noise at fairs or carnivals.By June 9, 1982, Neil was 6 years old and had open-heart surgery. The Fontan procedure was used to create a conduit from the pulmonary artery exiting the heart to the lungs. He did great. Sandie says you never would have known anything was wrong for the next seven years. He rode a bike, went swimming and bowling, participated in Cub Scouts activities."It was a fairly normal life until 1988," Sandie said.That was when Neil developed tachycardia arrhythmia at age 11, a side effect of the Fontan. Between 1989-1990, he was in and out of the hospital 11 times.In January 1990, the doctors tried to induce a ventricular tachycardia arrhythmia attack through a catheterization to determine what type of pacemaker, if any, would be effective. During the trial procedure, his heart stopped three times. A pacemaker was implanted on the left side of his domain. He was 15.Doctors discovered a pocket of liquid, a sign of congestive heart failure.October 1991, at 16, during a regular electrophysiology checkup, an echocardiogram showed his heart function to be 18 percent. He was retaining fluid in his abdomen.Mid to late November 1991, Neil was put on the national and regional transplant candidate list."It leaves you kind of numb when you hear that," Sandie said.In February 1992, he was tired all the time. He had to use a wheelchair to get around.On July 16, 1992, Neil had his regular weekly checkup at St. Christopher's. Now he was not only in congested heart failure but also had renal failure. His doctors wanted to admit him to ICU STAT to await a heart."We knew he was losing hope and was certain he was dying. We wanted to do something special for his 17th birthday," Sandie said.So on July 17, 1992, his family threw a big 17th birthday party for him at Gap View Miniature Golf Plantation in Walnutport."We felt Neil needed this time with friends for memories to look back on during the rough time ahead," Sandie said.Sunday, July 18, 1992, was his actual birthday. It was just supposed to be family at home, but word got out and over 200 people came to visit and were in and out of the house all day. "It was an awesome day," Sandie said.Monday, July 19, 1992, his mom let him sleep in. Later they went to Palmerton for breakfast at the Big S Lunch since the Gerhardt family had become a vital part of Ahner and family's vast support system, and then they went to St. Christopher's in the hope of receiving a new heart.By Aug. 10, 1992, Ahner had been on the heart donor list for nine months. Word comes that a heart is available. Neil's family started arriving at the hospital in a show of love and support. He went into surgery at 9:40 p.m. and received a new heart in a surgery performed by Dr. Pierre Russo.On Aug. 11, 1992, the donor heart arrived from Lancaster at 1:50 a.m. from a 42-year-old woman who had fallen off a horse and broken her neck. Neil was out of surgery at 6:40 a.m.When his parents saw him in CICU, he had pink toes for the first time in his life. By 2:30 p.m., he was in a fight for his life as he hemorrhaged from his left lung that his native heart had been dissected away from.There was not even enough time to get him into the OR, and surgery was done in his CICU isolation cubicle.Aug. 12, 1992, he experienced heavy bleeding. His chest was reopened and he had to undergo a three-hour surgery to correct the problem.Aug. 21, 1992, Neil received a tracheotomy. He then had to relearn to eat and swallow food. He also had to relearn how to walk after the transplant.Sept. 1, 1992, he had his first and only bout of rejection.Sept. 3, 1992, Neil had a new pacemaker implanted.Oct. 27, 1992. Neil walked out of St. Christopher's after 100 days to cheers and well-wishes from hospital personnel, doctors, the hospital CEO and housekeeping staff. When he arrived home at Effort, there were banners and supporters everywhere to welcome him."It was a great day. We really believe Neil survived because of the love and support he received from family, friends and the staff at St. Christopher's. And Neil's will to live," his mother said.Next Saturday: Neil Ahner's journey of the heart continues.