Help Baby Aaria's Heart Journey

Story:

We are Aaron and Jazzlyn, parents to two beautiful girls — Zavaiya, age 4, and our newborn daughter, Aaria.

At our 16-week ultrasound, doctors suspected something might be wrong with Aaria's heart. By 19 weeks, we had our answer: Aaria had a complex congenital heart defect. We never imagined our daughter would need open-heart surgery before she even left the hospital after birth — but that became our reality.

Aaria was born on May 26, 2026, with a rare combination of heart defects: Double Inlet Left Ventricle (DILV), Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), and a Hypoplastic Aortic Arch. In simple terms, Aaria has one main pumping chamber doing the work two chambers normally do, and several of her major blood vessels formed differently before birth.

The day she was born, Aaria underwent a lifesaving Balloon Atrial Septostomy (Rashkind Procedure) to improve blood flow and oxygen to her body. At just 7 days old, she had her first open-heart surgery — the Norwood Procedure — to reconstruct her aorta and place a shunt directing blood to her lungs.

Aaria still has two more major surgeries ahead of her: the Glenn Procedure around 4–6 months old, and the Fontan Procedure between ages 2 and 4. This is a years-long journey, and we are walking it one step, one surgery, and one prayer at a time.

Right now, both Aaron and I are not working. Aaria needs round-the-clock care and constant presence at the hospital, and we also have Zavaiya, our 4-year-old, who needs her parents too.

Without income coming in, we are facing real and growing financial strain on top of an already heartbreaking medical journey.

Funds raised will go toward things like:

-Lost wages — both parents have had to step away from work to be at Aaria's bedside and care for Zavaiya

-Medical bills — co-pays, deductibles, and costs not covered by insurance for Aaria's surgeries, hospital stays, and ongoing cardiology care

-Travel and lodging — gas, parking, and possibly lodging for follow-up appointments and future surgeries at children's hospitals

-Meals — food during long hospital days, since hospital cafeterias add up fast over weeks/months

-Household bills — rent/mortgage, utilities, and basic living expenses that don't pause during a medical crisis

-Childcare support for Zavaiya — so she still gets attention, routine, and care while we're focused on her sister

-Aaria's ongoing care needs — medications, specialized formula or feeding supplies if needed, and equipment for home care between surgeries

This is a years-long road, with major surgeries still ahead at 4–6 months and again between ages 2–4. Any support — big or small — helps lighten this load so we can focus on what matters most: being present for both of our daughters.

Thank you for loving our girl and our family through this. We believe God is faithful, and we've felt that faithfulness through every one of you.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." — Psalm 34:18

With gratitude,

Aaron & Jazzlyn