Hi friends & family,

I’m Kara, Nina’s sister and Addie’s proud aunt. I want to share the story of my amazing niece, Adelena (Addie), and ask for your help as she faces a big challenge. Addie is a brave, bright, and hilarious 4-year-old who lights up every room she enters. This March, she will undergo open-heart surgery at Mayo Clinic to repair a congenital heart defect called Ebstein’s Anomaly. While her parents, David and Nina, are deeply grateful for their insurance and the incredible care she’ll receive, many expenses fall outside of coverage—travel, meals, time off work, and the unexpected costs that come with having a child in the hospital.

Since Addie’s birth, we’ve known surgery might be part of her journey. For four years, her parents have waited—through countless appointments, tests, and long stretches of uncertainty. Now, with her heart showing signs of strain and her stamina fading, it’s time. The regurgitation in her heart has progressed to the “severe” category, and her heart is working overtime just to keep up with everyday life. This surgery will give her the chance to run, play, and grow without exhaustion holding her back.

We’re thankful that Addie is in the hands of Dr. Dearani, one of the world’s leading experts in this procedure. He’s confident that her surgery is right on track and believes she has a strong chance at a normal or near-normal adulthood—the kind where cardiology visits are just annual checkups. That’s a hope we hadn’t dared to imagine. Addie is processing all of this in her own four-year-old way. She knows there will be tests and doctors, and she’s still excited for the adventure. She recently told us, “After my heart’s fixed, I’m going to run around so fast and not get tired! Well… maybe a little tired, but not that much. I’m going to be like a race car fast.” Her little heart is already looking toward the other side of this, and so are we.

The family will be staying in Rochester for several weeks during her surgery and recovery. Their younger daughter, Lucy, will be with them, and they hope to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. They’ve already toured it and met their therapy dog, Frank (A highlight for Adelena). The staff there were incredibly kind, and we’re so grateful for their support. We are hoping they can stay at the Ronald McDonald House, but may be waitlisted depending on availability when they're in Rochester for Adelena's surgery.

Any funds raised will help to cover:

We know this is a big ask, and we don’t take it lightly. Your support—whether through donations, sharing this page, or sending love and prayers—means more than we can say. We’ll be posting updates throughout Addie’s journey on her Caring Bridge (that you can follow here), and we invite you to walk alongside David, Nina, Adelena, and Lucy move toward healing and hope.

Thank you for holding our girl—and our family—in your hearts.

With love and gratitude,

Kara (Addie’s aunt)