Sweet Baby Paisley needs a Heart Transplant

Hello! Our amazing friend, Stephanie Sorensen “Steph,” is the most amazing Mother we have ever met. She has dedicated her whole life to loving, caring, and bettering herself to be the best Mom possible. I have never met someone that has endured so many complicated and heartbreaking challenges, but is still kind and giving to others. She is completely selfless and goes above and beyond for everyone and anyone. I truly don’t know anyone as kind or as resilient as Steph.

Steph truly cares about and loves others, she was a foster parent, a proctor parent, a volunteer as a CASA for children in the foster care system, and has done all this, while also going through some very difficult things herself.

Stephanie left a marriage in December of 2018, becoming a Single Mother of two very young little girls, ages 1.5 and 7 months at the time. They are now 6 and 5.

After her separation/divorce she gave herself one year to get back on her feet. In June of 2019, she moved into her own apartment with her two little girls, got herself a stable job, and life seemed to be getting better. She felt happy and free, moving on from things that kept her stuck.

In 2021 Steph happily became pregnant with her sweet miracle rainbow baby, Paisley. At a routine anatomy scan, Steph pointed out that her unborn babies heart was off, that there were only 3 chambers. Later in the appointment her doctor confirmed that Stephanie was right and that in fact something was very wrong with the unborn baby’s heart.

Steph was referred to Maternal Fetal Medicine where they performed a fetal echocardiogram and further testing on little unborn Paisley. It was confirmed that in fact something was critically wrong with her baby’s heart. Paisley had a condition known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, also known as HLHS, and the most severe form of the syndrome. “Mitral Atresia/Aortic Atresia”

Paisley’s diagnosis is 100% fatal just moments to days after birth if immediate intervention isn’t sought.

Paisley was born at the University of Utah Hospital and then immediately taken to Primary Children’s Medical Center’s Cardiac Intensive Care unit, where the team began the fight to save this very very sick little newborn.

Paisley was born with a more complex form of HLHS and the team wasn’t quite sure if she would make it. She was born with extra complications that required immediate and invasive intervention in the cath lab at just hours old to try to save her life. The initial procedure was a success and they planned for a very serious and complicated open heart surgery at just 4 days old (on Christmas Eve Day.)

Paisley suffered tremendously and truly fought for her life moment by moment, she had nearly every complication you can imagine and was hospitalized for her first 4 months of life.

In March of 2022 Paisley got to come home with her Mommy and her two big sisters! Paisley was in and out of the hospital with many complications from March until May, when she underwent a second major open heart surgery. Steph had to stay home to care for Paisley’s complex medical needs, as she is immunocompromised and cannot attend daycare, nor can Steph afford to hire a nurse to provide constant care for Paisley, so she can have a job.

Around this time, Steph started to show severe symptoms of heart failure and was diagnosed with a form of Ebstein’s Anomaly, (another serious congenital heart defect) and required her own open heart surgery in September of 2022.

Heartache after heartache, this family couldn’t catch a break.

Paisley constantly in and out of the hospital and multiple appointments a week for months on end.

Steph continues to struggle with the aftermath of a major open heart surgery while juggling her three precious little girls. Due to all of the complications her family has faced, she has been unemployed, trying everything to keep her little family afloat.

Shortly after Paisley’s second open heart surgery, her sweet heart started failing. Her Mom and all of her multiple teams fought diligently to preserve her sweet little half a heart, but things started to deteriorate and ultimately Paisley is in need of a heart transplant to live.

Paisley has been hospitalized since the beginning of August and will be living inpatient at Primary Children’s Hospital until she receives the gift of a heart transplant., which is looking like the upwards of a year as the wait for a heart takes a while and with Paisley’s unique body typing she a match may be hard to come by.

From all of what Steph has been through, she has felt inspired to pursue a career as a Physician, specifically as a pediatric cardiologist. She is currently registered at the University of Utah and is a Pre-Med student. (Although is taking a pause so she can be fully present for her baby.)

We as Stephanie’s friends created this fundraiser to hopefully alleviate some of the burden she has to face while anxiously awaiting her baby child’s heart transplant, while also caring for her two little girls, and herself.

Paisley is 21 months old, is the smartest, kindest, most friendly child you could ever meet, she lights up the room, she has earned the nickname, “The Mayor” at Primary Children’s because everyone is head over heels for her sweet spirit. She frequently visits everywhere in the hospital and everyone knows “Baby Paisley The Mayor of the Cardiac Unit.” Her Mom is often surprised when strangers stop and talk to Paisley as they know who she is. Paisley wants to live and is fighting each day to be strong to be ready for her second chance at life.

We know times are tough, but if you can donate, even $5.00 it will make such a big deal to this family facing the absolute unthinkable.

100% of the funds raised will be put directly into a Special Needs Trust for the family.

Thank you so much!