ST. HELENS, Ore. -- Matthew Reynolds may only have half of a heart, but the 2-year-old boy looks and acts like any other toddler.

The St. Helens child is preparing for his fifth trip to the operating room.

His mother, Marlynne Reynolds, learned during pregnancy that her son developed heart problems. Doctors gave her three choices.

"It was either to terminate the pregnancy, to go ahead and have him -- he probably wouldn't make it -- and hold him until he died, or to go through all these surgeries," Reynolds said.

Doctors performed four surgeries on Matthew with hopes of improving his blood flow.

"He can't live with the condition he has now," Reynolds said. "They can make due, but he has to have a new heart."

So far, the Oregon Health Plan has paid for all of Reynolds' surgeries, including one that totaled $245,000. However, Reynolds said she's $600 in debt due to costs not covered by the plan, including charges for when she stayed in the hospital with Matthew.

"I'm on disability and he's on disability," she said. "So we literally live from paycheck to paycheck."

The single mother had no other choice but to put donation containers inside several businesses in St. Helens.

Meanwhile, Reynolds said she prays with her son in hopes that his heart troubles will fade away and give him a truly normal childhood.

Matthew is scheduled for his fifth surgery next month.

Donations to help the family may be made at any U.S. Bank branch into the Matthew L. Reynolds account.

2-Year-Old With Half A Heart Prepares For Another Operation