Binta Rose's Celebration of Life

Dearest Family & Friends,

On June 20, 2019, my sister Jessica and brother-in-law Siaka welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Binta Rose into the world. During Jessica's pregnancy and leading up to Binta's birth, Jessica and Siaka were frequently meeting with doctors and specialists as there were concerns with the condition of Binta’s heart development. She had holes between each heart chamber of the left & right atriums and the left & right ventricles which caused concern, but was something that could be treated after birth.

Just a short time after being born, Binta was brought into open heart surgery as the vessels which are supposed to return blood to the heart were attached to her gastrointestinal tract instead of her heart. After over 9 long hours in the operating room, Binta’s surgery went well and they decided to keep her chest open as a precaution. Post-surgery, however, swelling and bodily fluids built up in her body to the point where it was hard to pass them on her own. As her kidney’s tried to keep up, they recommended to put Binta on dialysis to help pass the fluids through her body. In doing so, Binta had another operation to place a temporary life support system (ECMO) to help the heart and lungs add oxygen to her blood and remove carbon dioxide as her little heart had been through so much to this point. Taking it hour by hour, between the fight of Binta and dialysis, the fluids and swelling were going down.

After several days on ECMO and dialysis, Binta entered her third operation in two weeks to remove the ECMO from her respiratory and cardiovascular system. The operation was a success and Binta was stable. Sadly, just hours after surgery, her blood pressure and heart rate dropped to critical levels and small compressions on her little heart by the surgeon’s two fingers could not revive her. Binta Rose passed away on July 4, 2019.

Jess and Siaka were both able to hold their daughter without any medical equipment attached to Binta for the first and last time on that Thursday night. As we are all deeply saddened and heart broken, Jess & Siaka feel very proud of their beautiful daughter and feel so blessed to have shared the time they had as the parents of Binta Rose. They have both continued to say how beautiful their baby girl was and when Jess and Siaka looked at Binta, they could see each other in her. “Every year on the 4th of July, we will celebrate the life of Binta Rose.” – Binta’s Mama, Jessica.

In the coming days, weeks, months and years – there may never be a day when grieving, sorrow, pain, frustration and sad feelings will go away.  This terrible tragedy is something no parent is prepared for, the burial of their child. Many of you have already sent your thoughts and prayers and have continued to as the days go by and you have offered to help out in any way possible, and our family thanks you tremendously.  We are humbly asking you to kindly support Jess and Siaka with the financial burden they will endure in the coming weeks between medical treatment and memorial services for sweet little Binta Rose. Your donation will financially help them get through this incredibly difficult time.

Thank You and God Bless You All.