From Crisis to Courage: Aaliyah's Story of Survival

In late September, Aaliyah’s life took an unimaginable turn. What began as a joyous occasion—the birth of her beautiful twins—became a fight for survival. Shortly after delivery, Aaliyah suffered a sudden cardiac arrest (her heart stopped beating) caused by a massive saddle pulmonary embolism and a clot in transit within her heart. Her condition was critical, and every moment was a battle.

To give Aaliyah the best chance at survival, she was medevac'd from Sibley Memorial Hospital to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where she spent eight grueling days in the ICU. Over the course of 23 harrowing days, Aaliyah faced overwhelming complications: intubated and on a medical ventilator due to respiratory failure, battling sepsis, hemorrhagic shock, delirium, and more. Her strength and the tireless efforts of her medical team pulled her through.

Today, Aaliyah is finally home with her newborn twins and toddler, focused on healing and starting her life as a mother of three. However, her recovery journey is far from over. Ongoing medical treatments, follow-up appointments, and the emotional toll of this experience weigh heavily on her and her family. The financial burden of these medical emergencies, combined with everyday expenses, has created a significant challenge for them.

Why Your Help Matters

Your contributions will provide vital support for Aaliyah’s recovery and help her family regain stability during this difficult time. Donations will go toward:

Turning Pain Into Purpose

Aaliyah’s story is tragically not unique. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications according to the CDC. Conditions like pulmonary embolisms, which nearly claimed Aaliyah’s life, disproportionately impact Black mothers.

In honor of Aaliyah’s resilience, we are turning her story into a call to action. Alongside supporting her recovery, we are committed to raising awareness about maternal health disparities and funding initiatives to improve outcomes for Black mothers. Every donation, no matter how small, will make an immediate impact on Aaliyah’s journey and contribute to broader efforts to save lives.

Every Action Counts

Even if you are unable to donate, you can still make a difference by sharing Aaliyah’s story. Amplifying her experience raises awareness of the systemic challenges faced by Black mothers and helps drive change.

Aaliyah’s strength, love, and determination inspire us all. Together, let’s lift some of this burden from her shoulders, support her beautiful family, and work toward a future where every mother has the chance to thrive.

Special Thanks

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the incredible care teams at both Sibley and Johns Hopkins. First and foremost, our heartfelt thanks go to the amazing doctors, nurses, and specialists at Sibley who were there for Aaliyah during her delivery and in the ICU. Their quick, skilled, and compassionate care saved her life, and we will forever be grateful for the expertise and dedication they showed in such a critical moment. Without their unwavering commitment, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

We are also profoundly thankful to the outstanding team at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. The doctors and nurses there went above and beyond, providing exceptional care that gave Aaliyah the best chance for recovery. Their expertise, professionalism, and constant support were invaluable during a time of uncertainty, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have had such an exceptional team by our side.

Finally, our thanks to the Special Care Nursery team at Sibley, who lovingly cared for our newborn girls. Their thoughtfulness in setting up FaceTime calls when we couldn’t be with them meant so much, and their constant attention made sure our babies were always safe, loved, and well-cared-for.

To all the doctors, nurses, and staff who have been a part of Aaliyah’s journey, we are eternally grateful. Your dedication, care, and compassion have made all the difference, and we are forever thankful for everything you’ve done for our family.

With gratitude and hope,

Aaliyah, Brady, and Their three baby girls