Support our Serenity ~ TGA Heart Warrior

2024 Update: Maria is 36 weeks along and preparing to make the move to Boston for 6-8 weeks. Maria will be admitted to Boston Hospital on February 7th 2024 in preparation to deliver Serenity. Housing update: Maria and Ivan have been placed on the waitlist for the Ronald McDonald House as well as Live4evan housing. At this time, they will be situated at the The Bon Apartments in Boston, MA. The nightly rate is $75 per night with parking not included.

Our family and friends wanted to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for the donations, thoughts and prayers provided to Maria, Ivan and Serenity. The upcoming weeks will be difficult, filled with long days and nights for Ivan and Maria. As helpless as I feel as a big sister/sister-in-law, all I can do is ask for continued prayers, strength, love and light to carry them through this time. We will continue to accept donations during the 8 weeks of recovery for Serenity.

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

1 Peter 5:10

November 2023:

Maria and Ivan are expecting a beautiful baby girl, Serenity Sage in February 2024. Serenity is their rainbow baby, as they navigated through the grief of two miscarriages. Maria and Ivan went to her full anatomy ultrasound on October 4th for a standard 22-week appointment. Upon exam, Ivan and Maria were immediately referred to a pediatric cardiologist. On October 9th Serenity was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called Transportation of the great arteries. Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a serious, rare heart problem in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed. The condition is present at birth, which means it's a congenital heart defect. Surgery to correct the positions of the arteries is the usual treatment. The surgery is usually done soon after birth. Serenity will require open heart surgery. Essentially, her heart is unable to properly distribute and circulate blood due to dysfunction in its tubes. Oxygenated blood is unable to travel throughout her body. This surgery is a necessary, life saving measure that the family cannot afford to go without.

Ivan & Maria’s family are reaching out for donations to offset the cost of temporary housing, travel, medical expenses and meals during these difficult and unimaginable times.

Any contributions are incredibly significant and urgently needed. The mounting cost of travel is too much for the family to pay on their own.

Please keep Serenity and the family in your prayers.