Hi everyone, our names are Melissa and Noah, and we’re the proud parents of two beautiful girls — our sweet 2-month-old Brinley, and her loving big sister Blakely who is 3½.

Brinley was born with Down syndrome and a serious congenital heart defect called an AV Canal Defect, along with ASD and VSD (holes between the chambers of her heart). Her little heart only has two chambers and two valves instead of four — meaning it has to work much harder to pump blood and keep her body going.

At just one month old, Brinley had her first surgery to place a G-tube because her heart condition and fragile lungs made it too dangerous for her to eat by mouth. She now relies on her feeding tube for nutrition, and her respiratory state is constantly fragile — she experiences retracted breathing and requires continuous oxygen just to keep her levels stable.

Now, Brinley is preparing to undergo open-heart surgery in Seattle to repair her heart and give her the chance to grow and thrive. Her doctors are also watching her closely for high pressure in her lungs (pulmonary hypertension), which could mean a second surgery will be needed later on.

Brinley has already shown us what a fighter she is. She spent 36 days in the NICU at a hospital two hours from home, bravely fighting through every setback with so much strength packed into her tiny body, constantly fighting to breathe and grow while we split our time between her bedside and caring for her big sister back home. Those days were full of worry, tears, and love — but Brinley never stopped fighting.

We’ll soon be traveling from Butte, Montana to Seattle for her heart surgery, and the financial strain is overwhelming. We’ll be away from home for several weeks while staying by her side, facing the heavy costs of lodging, food, travel, missed work, and ongoing medical expenses.

Every donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward:

• Gas, lodging, and meals while in Seattle

• Lost income during Brinley’s surgery and recovery

• Medical, oxygen, and G-tube supply costs not covered by insurance

Brinley’s strength and light have already touched everyone who meets her. Despite all she’s been through, she smiles through it all — a reminder that even the tiniest hearts can be the strongest.

If you’re able to help, please consider donating or sharing Brinley’s story. Your kindness will help keep our family together during this journey and ease the weight so we can focus on what truly matters — helping our baby girl heal and grow stronger each day.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, prayers, and support.

— Melissa, Noah, Blakely, and Brinley.