It was with much excitement just a few weeks before Christmas last year that my sister Gina and her husband Andy, after having issues getting pregnant, announced they were expecting! But at Gina's 20 week ultrasound, an issue was detected with baby's heart. They were sent to a specialist who confirmed that their baby girl had what is called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. HLHS is a rare condition in which the left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped and cannot efficiently pump blood to the body.
Gina is getting induced on August 13th at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee. Baby will need her first of three open heart surgeries at 5 days old. The next will be around 3-4 months old. And the final around 2 years old. The surgeries will basically 're-plumb' the heart so that the right side is doing the work of the right and underdeveloped left side. Their length of stay at Children's/ the Ronald McDonald House is very unknown right now, but could be months.
Gina will not be able to work for the baby's first year of life, as a lot of monitoring and special care will be required. They are currently trying to figure out their financials in addition to medical insurance, as Gina held the insurance through her work. And needless to say, the medical bills will seem endless.
My sister and brother-in-law do not like asking people for help, so I am reaching out on their behalf, because they have a long road ahead of them. I told my sister, ANYTHING would help. And if you do not want to donate monetary gifts, your prayers would be appreciated even more. We are convinced that this little girl is going to be one heck of a fighter! Thank you so very much.
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