Olivia's Fight against CHD

Story

Louie and I (Vicky) are the proud parents of Olivia a fun, loving energetic little girl. She is the youngest of her three sisters, Monet, Louisa and Emma and she loves spending time with her family. She has a big personality and she is full of sass, and has brough brought so much joy in our lives.

Olivia was born with multiple heart defects caused by a genetic condition called DiGeorge syndrome. Her heart defects are Truncus Arteriosus, VSD, ASD, and MAPCAs. This means that her pulmonary truck and the aorta failed to properly divide resulting in one trunk arising from the heart, she also had a hole in between the top chambers of her heart and the bottom chambers. MAPCAs are collateral arteries her body created to help supply blood to her pulmonary system. 

Olivia's fight began, her case was so complex that our home childrens hospital did not feel comfortable perfoming her operation so it was decided she would be trasfered to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto. We never imagined having to be four hours away from home let alone prepare for the unexpected medical expenses. Olivia had her first operation when she was just 2 weeks old. We learned how complex and severe her case was and unfortunetly she was unable to come off the ventilator and spent the next two months in the CVICU intubated. The weeks to follow were some of the most difficult times in our lives. I stayed bedside the entire time while Louie had to travel back and forth every weekend due to work and our older children being in school. Olivia began showing signs of heart failure and at just two months old had to go back into the OR.16 hours later we received news Olivia received her full repair and the healing process began.  

After 133 days our family was home together and we began to enjoy life again! Over the last five years we have had hundrends of doctor appointments, procedures, labs, echos, and trips to  hospitals  but we have made lots of memories. We have been enjoying life together and Olivia has been thriving. Shes grown in to a beautiful sweet spunky kid. We made it FIVE years without any major operations, but unfortunately Olivia heart is struggling and her fight continues. Her right ventrical has been working hard due to a leaky valve and her pulmonary arteries are in need of reconstruction. She will be having her third open heart surgery February 13, 2025 in Palo Alto. We dont know what to expect but anticipate a 4-6 week stay, God willing it wont be this long. 

Please pray for our girl and the team who will be performing this huge operation on her little heart. 

****

Ways to suppor this Online T-Shirt Fundraiser:

Shop + Give: 40% of each purchase is donated.

Crowdfunding: 100% of cash donations (minus fees) are gifted.