HUBER HEIGHTS — During the Bengal’s playoff run last season, News Center 7 introduced viewers to a little guy with a big passion for the Bengals.
Known as “Superman Sammy”, four-year-old Sammy Jones from Huber Heights was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a rare heart condition.
Last April, Jones got a heart transplant.
It’s been more than nine months since the surgery and his new heart beats even stronger for the Cincinnati Bengals.
This time last year Jones was cheering on the Bengals from his hospital bed at Cincinnati Children’s, wishing one day he’d get to go to a game.
Jones’ wish came true this season his dad Garland Jones said.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Superman Sammy: 3-year-old with rare heart condition gets transplant
After seeing him in News Center 7′s previous coverage, season ticketholders in Bellfontaine reached out to Sammy’s family and offered them tickets to a game in October.
“Just beautiful people ... we’ve had so many people reach out to us and tell us how he’s affected them and inspired them or what have you. So the blessings just keep coming,” Garland said.
Sammy was even given an autographed football from his favorite player Ja’Marr Chase.
But the road to recovery after receiving the new heart hasn’t been an easy one.
>> PREVIOUS REPORTING: Superman Sammy: 3-year-old won’t let rare heart disease stop him
“They basically went in every month to do a biopsy to make sure there was no sign of rejection and check the pressures,” Garland said.
Sammy will have to take immunosuppressants for the rest of his life to stop his body from rejecting the heart.
“I’m so thankful to be on this side of it,” Garland said.
Sammy is now able to be a child.
“He’s in preschool. He wanted to play sports this past fall but we were like ‘yeah, too soon,” Garland said.
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