When Jack Donovan was born, his pediatrician noticed a heart murmur. His parents, Elizabeth Donovan and John Donovan, knew congenital heart defects ran in the family, but they hoped it was benign. At just 2 months old, Jack visited a cardiologist, and by 6 months, doctors suspected something more serious. Still, Jack was, in his mother’s words, “a roly-poly happy baby,” full of smiles.
Everything changed at 15 months when a pediatric cardiologist discovered the true cause: subaortic stenosis. It was already significant. In January 2019, at just 2 and a half years old, Jack underwent his first heart surgery.
For a while, things were stable. But last summer, his stenosis levels began creeping upward again. By November 2025, Jack needed a second surgery, one designed to prevent the muscle ridge from growing back. He explains it to his friends matter‑of‑factly: “an extra muscle makes my heart work too hard,” Jack said, and now he’s had a procedure to “make sure it stays gone.” He even made a presentation for his classmates explaining where he was going and why he’d be gone.
After surgery, Jack surprised everyone with how seriously he took care of himself. Normally a bundle of energy, he became his own advocate, reminding people to be gentle around him, speaking up when he needed space and showing maturity beyond his years.
Today, Jack can do almost anything. Swimming is his favorite sport, and this summer, he placed 23rd out of hundreds of swimmers his age for breaststroke. When asked if his teammates know about his special heart, Jack said, “probably, because I have a scar on my chest.” He’s never afraid to speak up about his condition or explain it to others.
Elizabeth remembers watching a teenage boy on another swim team, also an athlete with a heart surgery scar. It was a reminder of what she already saw in Jack. “Even though it’s hard getting a diagnosis and wondering what your kid’s life is going to look like, Jack is beyond his years in maturity. He’s fun, athletic, and positive.” Her advice to other parents is not to worry so much about the future. “They’re limitless.”
As Jack heads into fifth grade at Victory Elementary, he’s excited for everything ahead: trying cello for the first time, continuing chorus, playing soccer and flag football, continuing on his school’s Battle of the Books team and enjoying his year as one of the leaders of the school. Jack is also involved in Kids Heart Challenge and says, “it’s good to help people in need.”
Jack Donovan is, without question, a kid with a courageous heart, one that beats strong, steady and full of possibility.
Written by Elizabeth Walsh, marketing and communications intern