Sophia Faith’s Story

Site created on January 7, 2016

As my due date approaches we wanted to find a way to keep everyone up to date on our daughter's health and progress. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement during this time when it matters most. For those who don't know how our journey began, here it is:

At 19 weeks pregnant my husband and I went to what we thought would be a routine ultrasound. We thought this day was going to be one of the most exciting days of our lives.. We couldn't wait to find out....were we going to have a boy or girl!? Our world was shattered when we were told something was wrong with our girl's heart. I couldn't believe what I was hearing when they offered to "terminate" our baby. I couldn't stand up. I couldn't breathe. I fell to my knees crying, I couldn't believe this was happening. We left the hospital in complete shock, not knowing what to do, what to expect, or if our girl was going to make it. A whirlwind of emotions came and went over the next several weeks, but One thing was certain, we would not give up on our girl. We met with a cardiologist a few days later and had a fetal Echo, which gave her an official diagnosis of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). After receiving the diagnosis we were blessed to be handed an amazing team at the Cleveland Clinic to help us along the way. Endless appointments, countless hours of research and many nights studying her disease and the surgeries she would be facing was all very overwhelming and terrifying. I didn't know how I could possibly get through this pregnancy. The only thing I could do now is pray and ask for prayers. So we chose then and continue to choose to have Faith in God. We have faith that he will guide us through this, faith that he will give us strength, and faith that he will be with us and our girl every step of the way. I can say with 100% certainty that I would not have been able to get this far and survive each day without my Faith...and of course my incredible husband. My husband and I have truly felt the power of prayer and we ask that everyone continues to pray as we continue on this Journey and welcome our little miracle, Sophia Faith, to this world. 

In hopes of keeping everyone informed while avoiding overwhelming amounts of phone calls, messages, and questions to respond to, I will update health information in the journals on this site for everyone once she arrives. It is expected that she will have her first open heart surgery (the Norwood procedure) between 2-6 days after she is born. She will likely be in the hospital for 30-40 days to follow. Again, my husband and I thank you all for your love, support, encouragement, and prayers during this time.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Jennifer Karban















Because music is my only therapy right now ....






🎶When the silence isn't quiet



And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe



And I know you feel like dying



But I promise we'll take the world to its feet



And move mountains



We'll take it to its feet



And move mountains



And I'll rise up



I'll rise like the day



I'll rise up



I'll rise unafraid



I'll rise up



And I'll do it a thousand times again



For You🎶






We are home!!!!! What an incredible little fighter we have on our hands! I couldn’t put into words if I tried how hard this has been. To watch your child go through all that she went through is something I could not simply describe. It has been the most painful, heartbreaking experience to not be able to protect my daughter from this. To have her scream and cry and get angry with me because I’m not stopping the hurt...well I haven’t experienced anything more traumatizing.  



But I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone out there who has been praying, because our God truly gave us the strength to get through this. Every moment when I thought that I was too broken and I couldn’t keep helping her fight and that I wanted to completely fall apart....He gave me that extra fight. So thank you to everyone who cried out in prayer for us! There are also so many people who reached out to me with encouraging words and support and told me what a good job I was doing... at times I felt like I was completely failing and those texts meant more to me than you will ever know... even if I was unable to respond to you all...please know how truly grateful I am for all your kind words! To our incredible family who helped take such great care of our boys...I have no idea what we’d do without you! We are beyond blessed! To our work families who have done nothing but support us from day 1 of her diagnosis, THANK YOU will never be enough!!! To my bestie who was able to give me a pep talk through text every time I felt like I couldn’t keep going.... I love you so much Aunt Sarah 😘🤗 and to my husband who has ALWAYS been my rock... I don’t know what I would do without him! We did it!!!! 🎉🎉 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻






We have some additional follow ups to get through still, but I am optimistic that all will look well. Please continue to keep Sophia in your prayers. She doesn’t have an ounce of fat left on her....so prayers for her appetite and overall recovery...both physical and mental. It’s hard to see her so frail right now... but I know she will pull through, because she is the strongest person I know!!! So much love and thanks to everyone out there following our little girl’s journey and keeping our family in your continual thoughts and prayers. #sophiastrong #mydaughter=myhero

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