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A St. Thomas teen with weeks left to live said his visit with Toronto Blue Jays stars during spring training was among the best days of his life.

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Wes Johnson, whose heart’s left ventricle is unable to pump blood, went to Dunedin, Fla., earlier this month with his family and met Jays stars including Davis Schneider, George Springer and Trey Yesavage. 

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“The day was unbelievable and it’s still difficult to speak about,” said his mother, Jennah Johnson. “He cried happy tears on the field, and he said it was ‘the best day of my life except my brother’s birthday.’

“Wes got the VIP treatment.” 

In the afternoon, the 17-year-old was escorted to the field at TD Ballpark, where he got to meet the Blue Jays as they were warming up, Jennah said. There he got to meet players Addison Barger, Springer and Daulton Varsho, she said. 

“He also got to stand for the anthems with the team,” his mother said. “Which was physically challenging, but he insisted he do it. 

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“He did have to be brought home early as his condition declined at the end of the trip.”  

Wes and his family found out in December he was no longer eligible for a heart transplant. 

The St. Thomas teen was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition in which the heart’s left ventricle is underdeveloped and unable to pump blood. 

In 2022, after years of surgeries and medical issues, including the need for a feeding tube and oxygen at night, the family was told he needed a heart transplant for a second time. 

Wes was first listed for a transplant at age five but went home after his condition improved. Ten years later, he was back on the list. 

“That heart never came,” Johnson said last month. “And it won’t come. No one should ever have to tell their son he isn’t going to be listed anymore.” 

Medical advisers initially said Wes could live up to a year but have recently changed their prognosis. 

Wes has only weeks left to live, his mother said. 

On Feb. 21, the Johnson family hosted a living celebration of life. 

Despite his health challenges, Wes, who has three siblings, graduated high school with honours in December through a combination of homeschooling and in-class learning. 

HRivers@postmedia.com 

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