Two hearts, one kidney, 491 Days: Finn Olson’s long road home

Finn Olsen has had a health journey many don't experience in a lifetime and he's only nine. Doctors have been amazed by his courage and determination to live, defeating what many didn't see as possible. By 7 a.m. nine-year-old Finn is moving not to get ready for school. Cool. Fun. But to get ready for his 491st consecutive day in the hospital, Finn has had many developmental delays. He couldn't walk or eat without a tube until he was four. He's non-verbal and was born with a congenital heart defect. And his heart was actually five times the size that it was supposed to be. His first heart surgery was a few months after he was born. His first transplant was July 13th, 2017. And you'll need a calendar to follow the rest of his story. In January of 2025, during routine tests, doctors discovered his heart was failing. And by May, he was admitted and on life support to wait for a match. They told us that it was going to be six months to a year wait. But before they could make it to that point. He had to undergo an unplanned surgery, sort of an emergent surgery that nobody could have expected. And at that surgery, he had a really tough recovery and actually his kidneys failed. Now in need of a new heart and kidney. Finn had to start dialysis. You've heard the expression, it takes a village to raise a child. In Finn's case, it took a small city to get him through an amazingly challenging medical ordeal. On May 5th of this year, surgery day came, and so did a confirmation text saying Finn's new heart is in and beating. There were nights where one of the doctors said to me once that we were out of blood pressure medications to give him, all we had left was Jesus. And that's what has gotten them through. September 4th, another day Finn's family will remember. It was the day they found out Finn had a kidney donor. But Finn wasn't the only one preparing for surgery this time. I'm donating a kidney to a stranger, and Finn is receiving a kidney from a stranger. The mother and son kidney surgeries scheduled for the same day meant Finn would have a sense of normalcy. Okay, this way, baby. And about a week with his family outside of the hospital before his kidney transplant. And as they turned the corner to head home, there was a group of patients, doctors and nurses there to say the day has come. A hallway full of Finn's favorite things and favorite people who have kept him alive. It's incredible how everybody came together to help get him to this day. Well, it gives you goosebumps to think about that. Nearly a year and a half in the hospital makes you almost forget the little things. Help him get his seatbelt on Ash. Like sitting in the car. Not a care in the world, and making it home for the first time is just as sweet. While we're in the middle of this, I can hear the kids. How does it feel for you to hear that? My husband and I aren't even in the same house at the same time, let alone all three of our children. And yeah, the chaos and the fighting and all the things that you don't think you're going to miss until you really miss it. People take that for granted. Yeah, I love it. Jeff and I literally on 52, we're like, yeah, see you. Wow, you did it, we did it, and here we are, oh, is somebody tired, you want mommy, you want to come here, come here baby. You want mama's, come here, come here, I know it's so much- After 13 nights at home. You also have surgery tomorrow. There was one last surgery to get through. I know what it's like to love somebody that's in kidney failure. I know what it's like to drive somebody to dialysis. My son's been helped by three donors by the end of our story. The least I can do is help one other person. He's tough and his parents are really hanging in there and supporting him. And He made it on the other side. Yes, we're going to wake up on Friday morning and Finn's going to have one and Allie's going to have one and everybody's going to have the correct amount of kidneys for 2027 and beyond. And I'm so glad we can laugh about that. Exactly, me too. Yeah, and happy to report tonight, Finn and his mom Allie are now both at home. Everyone is doing well. The family just so excited to all be under one roof. All right, let's talk about.