Main fundraiser photo

Ava Blenus Medical Fund

My name is Kelsey and some of you may already be aware while reading this that my Brother and his family are going through open heart surgery and recovery for their little girl Ava. A few people have asked what they can do to help or if there is a place to donate to them. Ava will have a long recovery as well as additional surgeries and procedures in the future. Let’s help alleviate some of the stress of the cost of travel, food, gas, and medical bills so they can focus on Ava’s recovery.  They have been told their stay could be as short as three weeks or as long as three months all depending on how well Ava recovers. There are many unknowns at this point as the team decides on the next course of action for Ava.

Ava's Journey
Ava Madeleine Blenus was born prematurely July 16th, 2017 with a complex heart. She had a hypoplastic right ventricle, what was originally diagnosed as Double Outlet Right Ventricle and is now known as a TGA - Transposition of the great arteries, a VSD (Ventricle Septal Defect) and pulmonary stenosis. On the first day after birth Ava underwent a Atrial Ballon Septostomy, where they went through her belly button and all the way up to her heart and created an additional hole, an ASD ( Atrial Septal Defect ). Ava was in NICU for just over 2 week and then got to come home with her family and be closely monitored. She had a cardiac catheterization in October because she was becoming quite blue. Doctors felt she would need to have open heart surgery sooner than later but she was able to wait and grow until now, at 6 months of age. 

She underwent an 11 and a half hour open heart surgery in which they did a Damus - Kaye - Stansel Procedure and a Bi-Directional Glenn Connection. This was the first of two planned open heart surgeries. She will undergo another between 2-4 years of age. 

She is currently in recovery and is being monitored very closely. More updates to follow.

Please keep Ava and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

For those of you who would be more comfortable with ETransfers they will be accepted to [email redacted] . Any funds not used during Ava’s Recovery will go to “Ava’s Heart Project” a Fund started in her name to raise CHD awareness and research

Thank you in advance to everybody who has been supporting the family and who continues to support them.

#AvaTheHeartWarrior to show your support and to let the family know you're thinking of them
Donate

Donations 

  • Allyson Higgins
    • $20 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $300 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Emmerson Woolaver
    • $40 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Don & Shirley Taggart
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
Donate

Organizer and beneficiary

Kelsey Dempsey
Organizer
Kentville, NS
Rebecca Pineo
Beneficiary

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.