Saving Mariah
Donation protected
Saving Mariah - The Story
In September of 2015, my nine month old Goddaughter Mariah was diagnosed with a rare disease called Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM). In one terrifying instant, her parents Joe and Lisa were told that their newborn wouldn’t live much longer without a heart transplant.
This is Mariah’s Story
Around Christmas, my beautiful Goddaughter was born and three short weeks into her life, Mariah’s parents Joe and Lisa found out some unsettling news about their newborn baby girl. The doctors found that she had a few things wrong with her heart. While saddened by this, as any parent would be, Joe and Lisa were determined to get her heart healthy again. After months of preparation on Sept 11, 2015, Mariah had completed her first surgery, successfully repairing the damages in her heart that the doctors found when she was just a newborn. During this procedure, the surgeons found out there were more than just the three things wrong with her heart.
They diagnosed Mariah with Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM), a disease that causes the heart muscle to become rigid and unable to relax and fill with blood. This disease leads to abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. This was not the news we were expecting to hear and after further research on her disease, Mariah’s future looked dim, at best. Mariah’s cardiologist transferred her to Stanford for further testing and research. After the testing, the doctors at Stanford told Joe and Lisa that Mariah is being placed on the 2A priority list for a heart transplant. This priority level means that in order to survive, Mariah needs to have a heart transplant within 6-12 Months. Joe, Lisa, Mariah and their family are patiently waiting for the call from Stanford letting them know they have a heart for Mariah and to get to the hospital as fast as possible.
Mariah Today and her Future
Mariah is a loving 1 year old who loves smiling, cuddles and playing with her big sister, Mila. She has always shown signs of the disease we just didn’t know it was due to RCM: We just thought it was because of the other issues she had with her heart, prior to the surgery. She has always had breathing difficulties and now sweats because of her condition. There is minimal research on RCM in newborns because it is the rarest form of heart disease. The only certainty among the limited research is that people with RCM who do not receive a heart transplant will have an early death. This devastating fact is certain if Mariah doesn’t get a heart transplant and soon. This is a parent’s worst nightmare and even more so an unfair sentence for any innocent child.
Hope
There is hope for Mariah. The only thing standing between Mariah, and a lifesaving miracle, is money. Joe and Lisa do not have a medical insurance plan that would cover all of the costs associated with Mariah receiving a heart transplant. They will have to move into an apartment near Stanford for 3 to 6 months because Mariah will have daily post-operation appointments after her transplant. Mariah will have to endure a biopsy procedure monthly for the first year post-transplant to monitor her new heart in addition to a battery of other weekly tests. Joe and Lisa will have to endure this financial burden in order to ensure a bright future for their daughter. Mariah is counting on you to donate to her cause or share this story so she can have a chance to leave her mark on this world, but the clock is ticking.
Please Act Today
What would you do if you knew that money was the only thing standing between your child and their chance at a full and happy life? What would any parent do?
We can't let this happen. We can't stand by and watch Mariah lose everything she is and ultimately die. What would we tell her big sister when Mariah is not there anymore? What would we tell ourselves?
Please help support our urgent, lifesaving mission. Every cent counts, but even if all you can do is forward this link to as many people you know, you will have our eternal gratitude.
Help us. Join us in our quest and then check back often to see how your contribution helped spark a miracle. With your help, she will become one of the youngest survivors of a heart transplant.
With your help, the WORLD will know Mariah Love Fairgood’s name.
Thank you. From the bottom our hearts, with all of the gratitude and affection we could possibly offer: THANK YOU!
Determined, hopeful and eternally grateful,
- Joe, Lisa, Mila and Mariah Love Fairgood
In September of 2015, my nine month old Goddaughter Mariah was diagnosed with a rare disease called Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM). In one terrifying instant, her parents Joe and Lisa were told that their newborn wouldn’t live much longer without a heart transplant.
This is Mariah’s Story
Around Christmas, my beautiful Goddaughter was born and three short weeks into her life, Mariah’s parents Joe and Lisa found out some unsettling news about their newborn baby girl. The doctors found that she had a few things wrong with her heart. While saddened by this, as any parent would be, Joe and Lisa were determined to get her heart healthy again. After months of preparation on Sept 11, 2015, Mariah had completed her first surgery, successfully repairing the damages in her heart that the doctors found when she was just a newborn. During this procedure, the surgeons found out there were more than just the three things wrong with her heart.
They diagnosed Mariah with Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM), a disease that causes the heart muscle to become rigid and unable to relax and fill with blood. This disease leads to abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. This was not the news we were expecting to hear and after further research on her disease, Mariah’s future looked dim, at best. Mariah’s cardiologist transferred her to Stanford for further testing and research. After the testing, the doctors at Stanford told Joe and Lisa that Mariah is being placed on the 2A priority list for a heart transplant. This priority level means that in order to survive, Mariah needs to have a heart transplant within 6-12 Months. Joe, Lisa, Mariah and their family are patiently waiting for the call from Stanford letting them know they have a heart for Mariah and to get to the hospital as fast as possible.
Mariah Today and her Future
Mariah is a loving 1 year old who loves smiling, cuddles and playing with her big sister, Mila. She has always shown signs of the disease we just didn’t know it was due to RCM: We just thought it was because of the other issues she had with her heart, prior to the surgery. She has always had breathing difficulties and now sweats because of her condition. There is minimal research on RCM in newborns because it is the rarest form of heart disease. The only certainty among the limited research is that people with RCM who do not receive a heart transplant will have an early death. This devastating fact is certain if Mariah doesn’t get a heart transplant and soon. This is a parent’s worst nightmare and even more so an unfair sentence for any innocent child.
Hope
There is hope for Mariah. The only thing standing between Mariah, and a lifesaving miracle, is money. Joe and Lisa do not have a medical insurance plan that would cover all of the costs associated with Mariah receiving a heart transplant. They will have to move into an apartment near Stanford for 3 to 6 months because Mariah will have daily post-operation appointments after her transplant. Mariah will have to endure a biopsy procedure monthly for the first year post-transplant to monitor her new heart in addition to a battery of other weekly tests. Joe and Lisa will have to endure this financial burden in order to ensure a bright future for their daughter. Mariah is counting on you to donate to her cause or share this story so she can have a chance to leave her mark on this world, but the clock is ticking.
Please Act Today
What would you do if you knew that money was the only thing standing between your child and their chance at a full and happy life? What would any parent do?
We can't let this happen. We can't stand by and watch Mariah lose everything she is and ultimately die. What would we tell her big sister when Mariah is not there anymore? What would we tell ourselves?
Please help support our urgent, lifesaving mission. Every cent counts, but even if all you can do is forward this link to as many people you know, you will have our eternal gratitude.
Help us. Join us in our quest and then check back often to see how your contribution helped spark a miracle. With your help, she will become one of the youngest survivors of a heart transplant.
With your help, the WORLD will know Mariah Love Fairgood’s name.
Thank you. From the bottom our hearts, with all of the gratitude and affection we could possibly offer: THANK YOU!
Determined, hopeful and eternally grateful,
- Joe, Lisa, Mila and Mariah Love Fairgood
Organizer
Mariah Love Fairgood
Organizer
Elk Grove, CA