Heart of Hope for Hudson
Donation protected
The Backstory:
Kevin and Elizabeth (Lizzy) met at Cal State University, Northridge in 2011 where they became college sweethearts and graduated together in 2016. In May of 2019 they got married and moved to Rancho Santa Margarita to build their family. This past October 2020, Kevin and Lizzy found out they were finally going to have their first baby! Both of them were excited for their new journey as parents.
Fast Forward to 2021:
In February of 2021, during their 20 week ultrasound, Kevin and Lizzy found out something was wrong with their baby Hudson’s heart. After a follow up echo appointment they were hit with the news of baby Hudson’s congenital heart defect; Ebstein Anomaly with pulmonary atresia.
Ebstein anomaly is a rare heart defect in which the tricuspid valve — the valve between the upper right chamber (right atrium) and the lower right chamber (right ventricle) of the heart — isn't formed properly. As a result, blood leaks back through the valve and into the right atrium.
Pulmonary atresia is a birth defect of the heart where the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the lungs doesn't form at all. In babies with this defect, blood has trouble flowing to the lungs to pick up oxygen for the body.
Right away their doctors informed them they needed a miracle. Fortunately, Kevin and Lizzy and their families are true believers in the power of prayer and God’s healing hands.
After much perseverance, prayer and research, Kevin and Lizzy were able to find a doctor willing and eager to take on their case. Dr. Da Silva, creator of the “cone procedure” and founder of the Da Silva Center for Ebstein’s Anomaly, practices at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
This coming June, at 36 weeks pregnant, Lizzy (and Kevin) will be traveling across the country to prep for Hudson’s delivery.
We are all in hope that baby Hudson’s heart stays strong enough to survive to delivery, thru delivery and then thru the three subsequent heart surgeries he needs to thrive.
His first two surgeries will be within weeks of his birth. These surgeries will help his heart pump oxygenated blood to his body.
A few months later, he will have open heart surgery (tricuspid valve repair). This should hopefully give his right ventricle proper function.
As one can imagine, there is a difficult and long road ahead and Hudson and his parents will be living in Pittsburgh for a minimum of 6 to 8 months.
Kevin (a self employed paper hanger) and Elizabeth (an in-home behavioral interventionist for infants with developmental delays) will be unable to work during this time while they give Hudson every fighting chance that they can.
This GoFundMe page is to help support this incredible family and their upcoming journey: hospital bills, relocation, living costs in Pittsburgh, expenses back home (mortgage, utilities etc.)
Please keep this family in your prayers and consider donating in any way you can.
We believe in miracles and we know God has a plan for baby Hudson.
Current update: as of 27 weeks Hudson is growing strong and within normal growth and defying the odds that the Doctors suggested doubting he’d make it this far.
Follow Hudson's story on CaringBridge at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hudsonhong
We can’t thank you enough for all your love, faith and support.
Kevin and Elizabeth (Lizzy) met at Cal State University, Northridge in 2011 where they became college sweethearts and graduated together in 2016. In May of 2019 they got married and moved to Rancho Santa Margarita to build their family. This past October 2020, Kevin and Lizzy found out they were finally going to have their first baby! Both of them were excited for their new journey as parents.
Fast Forward to 2021:
In February of 2021, during their 20 week ultrasound, Kevin and Lizzy found out something was wrong with their baby Hudson’s heart. After a follow up echo appointment they were hit with the news of baby Hudson’s congenital heart defect; Ebstein Anomaly with pulmonary atresia.
Ebstein anomaly is a rare heart defect in which the tricuspid valve — the valve between the upper right chamber (right atrium) and the lower right chamber (right ventricle) of the heart — isn't formed properly. As a result, blood leaks back through the valve and into the right atrium.
Pulmonary atresia is a birth defect of the heart where the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the lungs doesn't form at all. In babies with this defect, blood has trouble flowing to the lungs to pick up oxygen for the body.
Right away their doctors informed them they needed a miracle. Fortunately, Kevin and Lizzy and their families are true believers in the power of prayer and God’s healing hands.
After much perseverance, prayer and research, Kevin and Lizzy were able to find a doctor willing and eager to take on their case. Dr. Da Silva, creator of the “cone procedure” and founder of the Da Silva Center for Ebstein’s Anomaly, practices at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
This coming June, at 36 weeks pregnant, Lizzy (and Kevin) will be traveling across the country to prep for Hudson’s delivery.
We are all in hope that baby Hudson’s heart stays strong enough to survive to delivery, thru delivery and then thru the three subsequent heart surgeries he needs to thrive.
His first two surgeries will be within weeks of his birth. These surgeries will help his heart pump oxygenated blood to his body.
A few months later, he will have open heart surgery (tricuspid valve repair). This should hopefully give his right ventricle proper function.
As one can imagine, there is a difficult and long road ahead and Hudson and his parents will be living in Pittsburgh for a minimum of 6 to 8 months.
Kevin (a self employed paper hanger) and Elizabeth (an in-home behavioral interventionist for infants with developmental delays) will be unable to work during this time while they give Hudson every fighting chance that they can.
This GoFundMe page is to help support this incredible family and their upcoming journey: hospital bills, relocation, living costs in Pittsburgh, expenses back home (mortgage, utilities etc.)
Please keep this family in your prayers and consider donating in any way you can.
We believe in miracles and we know God has a plan for baby Hudson.
Current update: as of 27 weeks Hudson is growing strong and within normal growth and defying the odds that the Doctors suggested doubting he’d make it this far.
Follow Hudson's story on CaringBridge at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hudsonhong
We can’t thank you enough for all your love, faith and support.
Organizer and beneficiary
Katie Bassett
Organizer
Carlsbad, CA
Kevin Hong
Beneficiary
