❤️ Healing Harley’s Heart ❤️
Donation protected
This last week, Jeremy and Mercedes Swanek's lives changed forever...In the early morning of September 6th, their 7-month-old daughter Harley became unresponsive at daycare. Her heart had stopped beating. Because of the fast response of her daycare provider, the paramedics, and the medical staff at St. Francis, Harley is still with us today. The doctors and nurses were able to maintain her vitals as much as possible. During her time in the ER at St. Francis, a chest X-ray was taken and showed that Harley's heart was twice the normal size. The decision was made that Harley needed to be flown to Children's Hospital in Omaha.
Upon arrival to Children's, doctors and nurses performed further tests. Through these tests, it was discovered that little miss Harley has a congenital heart disease called Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA). This is a heart defect that is present at birth. ALCAPA is when blood that is lacking oxygen is carried to the left side of the heart, causing the heart muscle to receive inadequate amounts of oxygen, which results in the heart tissue to die. Surgery was required to save Harley's life, and the surgery was a success. Harley was then placed on a heart/lung machine called an ECMO. The ECMO pumps and oxygenates her blood outside of her body, allowing her heart and lungs to rest.
The next day, Friday the 7th, Harley received a blood transfusion, due to blood loss during the surgery. She also was given medicine to stabilize her vitals. A X-ray was performed and showed fluid/bleeding around her heart, causing pressure. The doctors decided to perform a procedure where they flush the area around the heart to see where the heart is leaking and if the leak is fixable. Unfortunately, there were too many leaks to repair, so another chest tube was inserted to help relieve pressure and get rid of the fluid/excess blood. Throughout Friday night, Harley was able to rest, maintain her vitals, and drain all the excess fluid/blood. Woohoo!!
Harley's next goals are to be stable enough to get off the ECMO machine, breath on her own, and most importantly, keep that little heart pumping and beating normally.
Harley has a long road ahead of her, as does her family. As we all know, life doesn't stop for anyone, so this fundraiser is to offer financial assistance (everyday bills and medical bills) for Harley's parents during their journey of healing Harley's heart. Every donation, big or small, is helpful and greatly appreciated. The family would like to thank everyone for the prayers, and the caring/support they have received, thus far. Please feel free to SHARE this page with your family and friends. #HealingHarley'sHeart #PrayersForHarley
Upon arrival to Children's, doctors and nurses performed further tests. Through these tests, it was discovered that little miss Harley has a congenital heart disease called Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA). This is a heart defect that is present at birth. ALCAPA is when blood that is lacking oxygen is carried to the left side of the heart, causing the heart muscle to receive inadequate amounts of oxygen, which results in the heart tissue to die. Surgery was required to save Harley's life, and the surgery was a success. Harley was then placed on a heart/lung machine called an ECMO. The ECMO pumps and oxygenates her blood outside of her body, allowing her heart and lungs to rest.
The next day, Friday the 7th, Harley received a blood transfusion, due to blood loss during the surgery. She also was given medicine to stabilize her vitals. A X-ray was performed and showed fluid/bleeding around her heart, causing pressure. The doctors decided to perform a procedure where they flush the area around the heart to see where the heart is leaking and if the leak is fixable. Unfortunately, there were too many leaks to repair, so another chest tube was inserted to help relieve pressure and get rid of the fluid/excess blood. Throughout Friday night, Harley was able to rest, maintain her vitals, and drain all the excess fluid/blood. Woohoo!!
Harley's next goals are to be stable enough to get off the ECMO machine, breath on her own, and most importantly, keep that little heart pumping and beating normally.
Harley has a long road ahead of her, as does her family. As we all know, life doesn't stop for anyone, so this fundraiser is to offer financial assistance (everyday bills and medical bills) for Harley's parents during their journey of healing Harley's heart. Every donation, big or small, is helpful and greatly appreciated. The family would like to thank everyone for the prayers, and the caring/support they have received, thus far. Please feel free to SHARE this page with your family and friends. #HealingHarley'sHeart #PrayersForHarley
Organizer and beneficiary
Alexandria Donahey
Organizer
Grand Island, NE
Jeremy & Mercedes DeVore-Swanek
Beneficiary
