Two years ago, in what should have been an ordinary family moment, something quietly extraordinary happened in the McDaniel household. Six-month-old Myles sat nestled beside his parents as the familiar theme music of Family Feud filled their living room. Like many babies, he was drawn to sound and color—but this was different. His eyes widened. His head turned deliberately toward the screen. He was captivated.
On-screen stood Steve Harvey, charismatic and unmistakable. And in that moment, something sparked.
“Myles absolutely loves Steve Harvey,” his mother, Hannah McDaniel, recalls. It may sound simple—just a baby enjoying television—but for Hannah and her husband Chris, that moment carried a weight far beyond entertainment. It was proof of connection. Awareness. Joy.
And joy, in their world, is never taken for granted.
A Diagnosis No Parent Is Ready For
In September 2022, just months before Myles was born, Hannah was three months away from delivery when doctors delivered devastating news: their unborn son had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a rare and severe congenital heart defect.
HLHS means the left side of the heart fails to develop properly, leaving it unable to pump oxygen-rich blood effectively throughout the body. For most families, the term is unfamiliar—until it becomes their reality.
“We were devastated,” Hannah shares. “We had tried for years to have a child. And then to hear that our son would be born fighting for his life—it broke us.”
The joy of pregnancy was suddenly overshadowed by fear, medical terminology, and a looming series of surgeries. The McDaniels quickly learned that HLHS isn’t something corrected with a single procedure. It requires a staged surgical approach—multiple open-heart surgeries within the first few years of life.
Their journey had barely begun, and already it felt like climbing a mountain.
Fighting From the First Breath
Just four days after entering the world, Myles underwent his first open-heart surgery. Four days old. While most newborns are learning to nurse and sleep, Myles was being wheeled into an operating room.
At four and a half months old, he faced his second surgery.
Each procedure was life-saving—but not life-guaranteeing. A third open-heart surgery remains necessary for his survival. Without it, the consequences could be fatal.
“If Myles doesn’t have the third surgery soon, he could die,” Hannah says, her voice steady but heavy.
Living with that knowledge changes everything. For the McDaniels, life is measured not in years—but in days.
“We live day-to-day,” Hannah explains.
More Than a Diagnosis
As if HLHS weren’t enough, Myles was also diagnosed with level 2 Autism and is non-verbal. He struggles with eating and swallowing. His oxygen saturation often sits at just 75 percent—far below normal levels.
And yet, if you were to meet him, you wouldn’t see illness first.
You’d see light.
“Myles is an adrenaline baby,” Hannah laughs. “He loves water slides. He loves being outside. And he loves Steve Harvey.”
When Family Feud comes on, Myles lights up. He waves his arms, makes joyful sounds, and excitedly shouts what sounds like “Bee-Bah-Bee”—his version of “Steve Harvey.”
To some, it’s just a child reacting to television.
To his parents, it’s everything.
“It’s such a simple thing,” Hannah says, “but it means the world to us.”
Oxygen at 75%, Joy at 100%
Children with HLHS often face long-term complications, including liver and heart issues later in life. The future holds many unknowns.
But Myles doesn’t dwell in the future.
He lives fully in the now.
Despite physical limitations, he embraces every thrill he can. The rush of a water slide. The warmth of sunshine. The laughter from a television show. He may be non-verbal, but he communicates something powerful through his expressions—pure, unfiltered happiness.
There is something profoundly humbling about a child who carries so much medically, yet emotionally radiates joy.
Hannah admits that there are hard days. Days filled with hospital visits. Days of monitoring oxygen levels. Days when eating becomes a struggle.
But then there are moments like the Family Feud theme song starting up—and suddenly, the house fills with Myles’ laughter.
And that laughter drowns out fear.
Strength in the Smallest Things
When you live with uncertainty, you learn to cherish small victories.
A stable oxygen reading.
A successful feeding.
A peaceful night’s sleep.
A delighted giggle at a favorite TV host.
For the McDaniels, these are not minor milestones—they are triumphs.
“Myles is such an inspiration,” Hannah says, pride evident in her voice. “He’s shown us that no matter what happens, we have to keep going. We have to keep fighting.”
And fight they do.
Behind every joyful video clip or smiling photo is a family navigating medical systems, surgical schedules, financial pressures, and emotional strain. Yet through it all, they remain united—anchored by faith and by the unwavering love they have for their son.
The Power of Presence
There is something symbolic about Myles’ connection to Family Feud. The show centers around families, teamwork, laughter, and shared moments. It brings people together.
In many ways, it mirrors the McDaniels’ own story.
They are a team. They face every challenge together. They celebrate together. They endure together.
And in the simplest act—watching a television show—they are reminded that life, even when fragile, can still be full.
Myles’ spirit teaches something adults often forget: joy does not require perfect circumstances. It can exist alongside pain. It can rise above uncertainty.
Sometimes, it only needs a theme song and a familiar face.
Looking Ahead With Hope
As Myles prepares for his third surgery, uncertainty remains. The procedure will be critical—another defining chapter in a life that has already demanded extraordinary courage.
But if Myles’ short journey has proven anything, it’s that resilience doesn’t depend on age.
At just two years and eight months old, he has endured more than most people face in a lifetime. Yet he continues to smile. To explore. To love.
His story is not defined by HLHS. Nor by autism. Nor by hospital stays.
It is defined by spirit.
And by a family who refuses to let fear overshadow love.
A Call to Stand With the McDaniels
The McDaniels’ story is one of unwavering hope—a reminder that strength often appears in the smallest bodies and the quietest moments.
As Myles continues his fight, he does so surrounded by faith, love, and a community that believes in him.
Let us take a moment to send our prayers, encouragement, and support to Myles, Hannah, and Chris. Their journey is not easy—but it is extraordinary.
Because in a world that often measures life by milestones and milestones by certainty, Myles measures life differently.
He measures it in laughter.
In connection.
In the joyful shout of “Bee-Bah-Bee!” when his favorite host appears on screen.
And in that joy, he reminds us all what it truly means to live.