We are reaching out to ask for your support as we prepare for the arrival of our baby.
During this pregnancy, our baby was diagnosed with a congenital heart concern called probable coarctation of the aorta. This means part of the aorta may be narrower than normal, which can sometimes make it difficult for blood to flow to the lower body. An early ultrasound also raised concern for a ventricular septal defect (VSD), and the most recent scans show this to be moderate but of concern.
At first, we were told that immediate open heart surgery within the first week of life would be required. After a stressful and painful period of preparing for the worst, we sought a second opinion at a major heart center. The new team reviewed the imaging carefully and determined that the aorta, while small, is closer to the watchful waiting range rather than the surgical emergency range. This means surgery may not be required at birth, though careful monitoring will be essential after delivery.
Because of the complexity of the diagnosis, our family must relocate to Boston for about 7 weeks around the time of delivery so that our baby can be cared for by a top pediatric cardiac team. This comes with significant costs for housing, travel, food, and daily living expenses. On top of this, we have already been paying out of pocket for many appointments, testing, and travel as we pursued multiple opinions to ensure the best care possible.
We are asking for help from our community, friends, and family to lighten this financial burden so we can focus fully on supporting our baby during this critical time. Your contributions will go directly toward:
Housing near the hospital in Boston for about 7 weeks
Food and travel expenses while we remain close to our baby
Baby supplies and essentials to support the arrival and care plan
Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference for our family. If you cannot give financially, sharing this fundraiser with others would mean so much to us.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for walking with us through this season. We are holding onto hope for a safe arrival and for the chance to bring our baby home healthy and strong.
With gratitude,
Chantile and Lester
