Bowen’s Heart Film Review

Bowen Hammitt has congenital heart disease (CHD). He was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome or only half a heart. “Bowen’s Heart” is the documentary chronicling what the entire Hammitt family went through and is still going through while Bowen fights this chronic illness.

After he was born, his mother and father, Matt and Sarah, and his three siblings held Bowen in case there was no other chance to do so.

Throughout the film, we bounce back and forth through different periods. Right from the beginning, we see the ups and we see the downs. To be honest, when he’s first born, you can’t help but be somewhat pessimistic about his chances of survival. Outside of his pale complexion and blue lips, he seems fine.
The documentary mainly covers his eighth year of age. This is because early on, his parents were given three choices of what to do for their son. One option was just “Compassionate care,” meaning they would just comfort Bowen until he passed away naturally. The second option is a full heart transplant and the third would be a series of three surgeries. These surgeries wouldn’t necessarily cure him but would hopefully help him live longer, giving his family a chance to know him and for medical science to develop more alternatives.

They go with number three. The surgery is called The Fontan Procedure. Even though the Hammitts believe this is best, they are still terrified for their child. Bowen has the first two surgeries. Years later, his life is somewhat normal, delighting his family, especially Sarah. He has friends and, with the help of oxygen, keeps up with everyone for the most part. He enjoys playing with his pals, but in one heartbreaking scene, he calls from a friend’s house, crying because he’s not used to being without at least one family member around. He has to be picked up.
So far, Sarah has chosen to delay the third surgery because she fears something could go wrong. Why rock the boat?
It’s not long before the doctors warn Bowens’ parents that the longer they wait, the less there’s a chance that anything can save him later if needed. They’re reminded that his organs are being deprived of life-saving oxygen and that he could have a heart attack or a stroke at any time. The way filmmakers Lexi Read and Zach Read handle the film for the Hammitt clan is with love and care, passing on what they have gone through so that others may learn from their experience. This should be seen as a potential guide for anyone who might be in the same boat.

The choice is made to finally go through with the third Fontan surgery. We’re also shown the staff in the hospital, who encourage Bowen and help the family understand that there’s nothing to fear because everything Bowen is about to go through is “just another day at the office” for the people involved with the procedure. They all know what they’re doing.
After the surgery, Matt and Sarah notice freckles on their son’s nose that they had never seen before. This is incredibly moving and shows signs that things have greatly improved. It’s remarkable to see that the boy who could have been given only comfort care was loved enough to have been given a fighting chance and is now on his way to illustrating that everyone deserves the opportunity to prove how strong they are.

The family is quite religious, but if that’s a concern for you, their church isn’t the main focus of “Bowen’s Heart.” The focus is on what a little boy can go through in the hopes that things will get better, having faith that life will improve because he knows no other way to live. A few images are hard to see, but I fully recommend this documentary, if for no other reason but to inform you that this fighter is a talented young man, one we’ll see much more of in the years to come.