Tot With Rare Heart Defect ‘Died’ 9 Times, Still Smiles as Family Gives ‘as Many Days as Possible’ Born with a rare heart defect, Samson Farkas underwent two open-heart surgeries and had clinically died nine times before he was even one year old. But the brave boy survived, and with the love and support of his family, he continues fighting for life. At the very least, his mother hopes to “give Samson the opportunity to as many days, earth-side, as possible,” she shared with The Epoch Times. Renee McIntosh, 40, is a mom to 19-year-old twin boys Lachlan and Jordan, 17-year-old Brock, and 11-month-old Cruiz.