Nationwide — True, an African American boy from Omaha, Nebraska, was just 4 years old when he faced a major heart surgery alone. Born with a severe heart defect, he later found a family when his pediatric anesthesiologist, Dr. Amy Beethe, decided to adopt him.
When she first met True at Children’s Nebraska, he was sitting alone in his hospital bed. The little boy had hypoplastic right heart syndrome, a condition that left the right side of his heart underdeveloped. Dr. Amy couldn’t shake the image of him facing surgery with no one by his side.
She told her husband, Ryan Beethe, about True, and the couple went to meet him in the hospital. They quickly formed a bond, and by February 2021, just a month after his surgery, True moved in with them. Soon after, they officially adopted him, giving him the loving home he had never known.
“It didn’t take long to fall in love with him,” Ryan told WLBT. “We knew we needed him in our family.”
Now 9 years old, True is thriving. He calls Dr. Amy and Ryan his mom and dad and enjoys the support of his siblings. The Beethes also adopted his sister, while other siblings were welcomed by friends and family, keeping the children close and connected.
“We don’t love True’s heart disease. We know it had a bigger purpose, so it was meant to be,” Amy said. “He’s truly become my son. I would battle for him like anybody else when it comes to his health. Yeah, you’re a mama bear, and you fight hard.”
Despite multiple surgeries, True will eventually need a heart transplant. For now, Dr. Amy and Ryan focus on giving him love, care, and time, supporting his courage every step of the way.
“Keep going and don’t stop,” True says, embracing life with determination and hope.