Josie Ann, Big Hearts Campaign
Donation protected
Hello kind souls! My name is Emma Rose, and I am the founder of the Josie Ann Big Hearts Fundraiser Campaign.
In late 2016, I was working at the Nordstrom Topanga in Los Angeles California when I crossed paths with this beautiful family. I was working in the lingerie department when mother Joey came into shop with me. She had her daugher Josie in the stroller, who seemed to look a bit weaker than the average infant. Parents Joey (Mom) and Darren (Dad) explained to me that poor Josie was born with a heart condition called DORV (double outlet right ventricle).
Baby Josie has experienced more pain at 2 years old than most people will endure in their entire lifetime. She was born on February 12, 2015 at The Children's Hopsital Los Angeles. Unable to leave the hospital, Josie arrested on February 24, 2015. When the doctors brought her back she was very weak but they still went ahead with her first open heart surgery on February 26, 2015. The chylous effusion presented itself after three days of feeding her which means she couldn't have breast milk. On March 3, 2015 she had her Diaphragmatic Pilcation surgery on her left side. On March 25, 2015 she went through another surgical procedure called Cath Lab to ballon open her pulmonary arteries. Her last surgery was on May 19, 2015 (Nissen & G Tube surgery).
Finally after three months at Children's Hospital beautiful baby Josie was able to visit home for the first time on May, 28, 2015. This was a day parents Joey and Darren will never forget.
When I met this family at Nordstrom I was blown away by this survival story. As a big believer in God and the whole idea of the Law of Attraction, I knew I was meant to be apart of Josie's journey. I left them with a letter that basically told the parents to keep faith and to understand that God can do anything. At this time (summer 2016) we did not expect Josie to have to go through anymore surgeries.
Almost a year has gone by since I have seen the family, and I have since left Nordstrom for a greater opportunity. On the morning of August 3, 2017 I was up at 4am unable to fall back asleep. I decided to check my junk email (once in a blue moon something important will land in there). I had an email from Josie's mother telling me that she will unfortunately have to undergo another open heart surgery on August 3. "OH MY GOODNESS" I thought to myself. THAT IS TODAY." I recoginized she had sent the email a few days before so I quickly responded to see if they wanted me to come pray with the family and support them at the hospital.
The mother responded and said that the doctors rescheduled her open heart surgery for August 21, 2017. The procedure will involve the doctors changing out her 9mm homograft to a larger one and to close a hole in her heart (best case scenario). Worst case scenario: changing out the homograft and placing a mechanical aortic valve which means being on blood thinners for the rest of her life, having blood sticks once a week for awhile until they can accurately have the medicine dose right for her body, and/or having open heart surgeries every two years to replace the valve.
Not to mention at two and a half years old having already undergone 5 major surgeries, an open heart surgery for such a young human being could potentially result in the very worst case possible. This is where I come in; first and foremost I believe God has paired me with this family to help them spiritually overcome this horrific episode of events. Being that both of my parents are doctors, it has been a major dream of mine to walk in their footsteps in order to bring Love and Healing to painful situations like this one. I have no doubt in my mind that not only will baby Josie make it through her big surgery on August 21; she will serve as a testimony for families all over the world suffering through similar circumstances.
Parents Joey and Darren have already spent thousands of dollars per month on medical expenses since Josie was born and will contiue to do so for years to come. Potentially this condition could impact Josie for the rest of her life. I would like to raise as much money possible for this family, the sky is the limit! They are such wonderful people who have experienced a tremendous amount of heartache these last few years. I will keep this fundraiser going until September 30, 2017.
Anything helps! Maybe you cannot afford to make a donation, this is OK! I created an email where you can directly communicate with the family and baby Josie. Send your prayers or kind words as they are very nervous for her upcoming procedure on August 21. ([email redacted])
I am hopeful and would like to thank you all in advance for taking the time to hear this story. God bless.
In late 2016, I was working at the Nordstrom Topanga in Los Angeles California when I crossed paths with this beautiful family. I was working in the lingerie department when mother Joey came into shop with me. She had her daugher Josie in the stroller, who seemed to look a bit weaker than the average infant. Parents Joey (Mom) and Darren (Dad) explained to me that poor Josie was born with a heart condition called DORV (double outlet right ventricle).
Baby Josie has experienced more pain at 2 years old than most people will endure in their entire lifetime. She was born on February 12, 2015 at The Children's Hopsital Los Angeles. Unable to leave the hospital, Josie arrested on February 24, 2015. When the doctors brought her back she was very weak but they still went ahead with her first open heart surgery on February 26, 2015. The chylous effusion presented itself after three days of feeding her which means she couldn't have breast milk. On March 3, 2015 she had her Diaphragmatic Pilcation surgery on her left side. On March 25, 2015 she went through another surgical procedure called Cath Lab to ballon open her pulmonary arteries. Her last surgery was on May 19, 2015 (Nissen & G Tube surgery).
Finally after three months at Children's Hospital beautiful baby Josie was able to visit home for the first time on May, 28, 2015. This was a day parents Joey and Darren will never forget.
When I met this family at Nordstrom I was blown away by this survival story. As a big believer in God and the whole idea of the Law of Attraction, I knew I was meant to be apart of Josie's journey. I left them with a letter that basically told the parents to keep faith and to understand that God can do anything. At this time (summer 2016) we did not expect Josie to have to go through anymore surgeries.
Almost a year has gone by since I have seen the family, and I have since left Nordstrom for a greater opportunity. On the morning of August 3, 2017 I was up at 4am unable to fall back asleep. I decided to check my junk email (once in a blue moon something important will land in there). I had an email from Josie's mother telling me that she will unfortunately have to undergo another open heart surgery on August 3. "OH MY GOODNESS" I thought to myself. THAT IS TODAY." I recoginized she had sent the email a few days before so I quickly responded to see if they wanted me to come pray with the family and support them at the hospital.
The mother responded and said that the doctors rescheduled her open heart surgery for August 21, 2017. The procedure will involve the doctors changing out her 9mm homograft to a larger one and to close a hole in her heart (best case scenario). Worst case scenario: changing out the homograft and placing a mechanical aortic valve which means being on blood thinners for the rest of her life, having blood sticks once a week for awhile until they can accurately have the medicine dose right for her body, and/or having open heart surgeries every two years to replace the valve.
Not to mention at two and a half years old having already undergone 5 major surgeries, an open heart surgery for such a young human being could potentially result in the very worst case possible. This is where I come in; first and foremost I believe God has paired me with this family to help them spiritually overcome this horrific episode of events. Being that both of my parents are doctors, it has been a major dream of mine to walk in their footsteps in order to bring Love and Healing to painful situations like this one. I have no doubt in my mind that not only will baby Josie make it through her big surgery on August 21; she will serve as a testimony for families all over the world suffering through similar circumstances.
Parents Joey and Darren have already spent thousands of dollars per month on medical expenses since Josie was born and will contiue to do so for years to come. Potentially this condition could impact Josie for the rest of her life. I would like to raise as much money possible for this family, the sky is the limit! They are such wonderful people who have experienced a tremendous amount of heartache these last few years. I will keep this fundraiser going until September 30, 2017.
Anything helps! Maybe you cannot afford to make a donation, this is OK! I created an email where you can directly communicate with the family and baby Josie. Send your prayers or kind words as they are very nervous for her upcoming procedure on August 21. ([email redacted])
I am hopeful and would like to thank you all in advance for taking the time to hear this story. God bless.
Organizer and beneficiary
Emma Rose Levy
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Darren Edwards
Beneficiary