Claire the Heart Warrior
Donation protected
Dan and Kelli were thrilled when they found out they would welcome their fourth child, Claire, into their family.
They learned her journey would look a little different when a routine ultrasound determined Claire has a condition called heterotaxy syndrome. It is a rare birth defect that affects the left-right asymmetry of the body’s visceral organs. It causes these organs to be missing, misplaced, malformed, or multiplied.
Although Claire’s darling smile and twinkling eyes don’t reveal it, her little body battles abnormalities in many organs including her lungs and stomach, and most significantly her heart.
Claire was born with eight major heart defects. She had a life-saving stent procedure on the day she was born, and an open-heart surgery to place a shunt when she was 10 months old.
Claire will travel from Utah to Boston Children’s Hospital for a complex open heart surgery on February 9th. This surgery, called a biventricular repair, will reroute Claire’s blood flow like a typical heart. We anticipate this being a long and difficult surgery for Claire, and her family plans to be in Boston for 4-6 weeks during recovery. Donations will be used for medical and travel expenses. We appreciate your love, support, and prayers said on Claire’s behalf. We know that Heavenly Father is watching over Claire as she continues to inspire us all.
They learned her journey would look a little different when a routine ultrasound determined Claire has a condition called heterotaxy syndrome. It is a rare birth defect that affects the left-right asymmetry of the body’s visceral organs. It causes these organs to be missing, misplaced, malformed, or multiplied.
Although Claire’s darling smile and twinkling eyes don’t reveal it, her little body battles abnormalities in many organs including her lungs and stomach, and most significantly her heart.
Claire was born with eight major heart defects. She had a life-saving stent procedure on the day she was born, and an open-heart surgery to place a shunt when she was 10 months old.
Claire will travel from Utah to Boston Children’s Hospital for a complex open heart surgery on February 9th. This surgery, called a biventricular repair, will reroute Claire’s blood flow like a typical heart. We anticipate this being a long and difficult surgery for Claire, and her family plans to be in Boston for 4-6 weeks during recovery. Donations will be used for medical and travel expenses. We appreciate your love, support, and prayers said on Claire’s behalf. We know that Heavenly Father is watching over Claire as she continues to inspire us all.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle Howells
Organizer
Kamas, UT
Kelli Ruf
Beneficiary