A young boy created a hospital gown for his sister with a design that will now be used by children nationwide. Tyler Cepkauskaus from Illinois, entered the Starlight Children's Foundation contest and his design went viral. His sister, Emily, has had three heart surgeries because she has a congenital heart issue which is linked to Down syndrome.
"Her left mitral valve is not working properly so they had to insert a mechanical valve," Laure Cepkauskas , their mother, said to "Good Morning America." "Every time she outgrows that valve she will have to have another open heart survey to replace it."
Tyler's gown includes the words he tells Emily before surgery, "brave, courage and survivor."
"Thinking about it makes me cry because whenever she would go in, he didn't know if she would come back," their mother said. "If it's on her gown, she'll always remember when big brother is not with her."
This story was originally published by Good Morning America.
For more information: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/year-olds-hospital-gown-designed-sister-worn-kids-71051652