Tyler Kowatch is a warrior of a different sort.

He does not wear the fatigues of a military man preparing to go to war nor the navy blue of the police officer stalking an armed robber.

Tyler’s “uniform” is the standard hospital gown that he has pulled over his body more times than he wants to count. Since he was born, his battlefield has been a hospital operating room; his enemy, always the same, his problematic heart that can no longer be fixed with medicine or surgeries.

Despite his serious health issues, this warrior continues the good fight to restore to him a normal, healthy life of a typical teenager. But just when Tyler appeared to have won enough battles to free himself from doctors and diagnoses, his enemy attacked again. Last Tuesday, three separate episodes of cardiac arrest quickly sent Tyler to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

And now, this soon-to-be 18-year-old high school senior’s name is on a list of patients awaiting opportunities for heart transplant surgeries.

A battle since birth

Tyler was born with a condition medically called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital defect in which the left side of his heart is severely underdeveloped. A ventricle, in his case, the left chamber of his heart that collects and then expels blood, is not functioning properly, thereby causing an inadequate supply of oxygen to his body’s circulation. This restriction stresses the heart and can cause life-threatening cardiogenic shock.

“Three days after Tyler was born, he had corrective surgery,” said his aunt Melissa Kowatch, who is a nurse at Lehigh Valley Hospital. “Then he had two other operative procedures — one when he was 6 months old and the other at 18 months.”

In 2004, when Tyler was 4 years old, doctors inserted a pacemaker to correct his arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat. The procedure also helped oxygenate his blood. He was able to function normally and live life like any kid would with six-month checkups by his cardiologist.

Told he couldn’t play contact sports, when he entered Jim Thorpe Area High School, he joined the track team and ran the 100- and 200-meter races, up until last year.

As Tyler grew, he needed a new pacemaker due to the leads becoming dislodged and the generator having to be replaced.

“Last August, he received his new pacemaker during a five-hour procedure,” Melissa said. “There were problems with scar tissue around his heart from other surgeries. After recovering, Tyler seemed to be more tired and he had a loss of appetite.”

December downfall

In October, Tyler’s tiredness and appetite loss continued.

“In the first week of December, we noticed that his face got puffy. His cardiologist adjusted the medication, but it was then that he told us that Tyler would be needing a heart transplant in the near future.”

On the day after Christmas, he was given blood thinner medication and then discharged from the hospital.

New year — new problems

In early January, Tyler coughed up blood, sending him to the hospital for a week. The problem this time was determined to be his HLHS. He was then sent back home, but 36 hours later, he coughed up more blood and returned to the hospital. His heart was stabilized and he was sent home with IV medication inserted into his arm.

“They told us that despite these events, it wasn’t super urgent that Tyler have a heart transplant,” Melissa explained.

The urgency, however, became apparent just two months later. A few weeks ago, during a tutoring session at home, Tyler suddenly collapsed in cardiac arrest. His stepfather Steven Bynon performed CPR while the family waited for a helicopter to fly Tyler to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Tyler would have two more episodes of cardiac arrest that same day, one in the ambulance while he waited for the helicopter and another at the hospital before he was eventually stabilized.

“He remembers feeling lightheaded and getting blurred vision,” Melissa said, “but that’s about all.”

The will of a warrior

“Tyler is an amazing kid. His condition is all he’s ever known,” she added. “He’s very positive about what is to happen next, very matter of fact, and he understands all the risks. He said, “I just want to feel better, so if getting a new heart will make that happen then let’s do what we need to do.”

After the approval by a medical board and a meeting with social workers, a psychiatrist, a nutritionist and heart transplant coordinators, the family was told by doctors that because of his common blood type, there’s an 80 percent chance of finding a donor in the next 30 days.

So for now, Tyler rests comfortably in the intensive care unit at the hospital. His mother, Marcy, never leaves his side, while other family members continue to check in on Tyler.

“This is obviously something very traumatic,” Melissa said. “This is not something you can prepare yourself for.”

A transplant brings with it no guarantee of success. A time period will follow when Tyler will be observed closely to ensure that his body accepts his new heart.

“He’s strong, but he’s scared, too. He realizes there are no more alternatives. He just wants a second chance at life.”

Now, with the hope that a new heart will bring this young battle-tested warrior a new and healthy life, Tyler waits and prepares himself for yet his biggest challenge yet.

The Everything Nice Gift Shop in Jim Thorpe has set up a GoFundMe on Tyler’s behalf. Contributors can access the fund on the store’s Facebook page. Jim Thorpe Yoga will be having a “Yogathon” on April 27 with proceeds contributed to Tyler’s family.

Also on April 27, the Everything Nice Gift Shop will sponsor a Luminary Walk. Local businesses will stay open later that night and donate a portion of their profits to his cause.