Help Baby Jade's Healing Journey

Hi, my name is Lea Gillies, and this beautiful little girl is my daughter, Jade. She was born on April 25, 2025, healthy and full of life. We were discharged from the hospital two days later with no complications. But everything changed on May 16, when I noticed that Jade was breathing rapidly—you could see her tiny rib cage with every breath. I took her to our local hospital, Onslow Memorial, but we were told this was “normal” for newborns.

Just one week later, on May 23, I rushed her back to the hospital. This time, it was confirmed that Jade wasn’t getting enough oxygen. She was intubated and flown by helicopter to UNC Chapel Hill due to the severity of her condition.

Since that day, we’ve been in the hospital. It’s been the most terrifying and traumatic experience of our lives.

Doctors discovered that Jade had contracted Parvovirus, which attacked both her lungs and her heart. More devastating news followed: our baby’s heart wasn’t fully formed. On June 20, we were transferred to Duke Hospital in Durham, and just three days later, after a heart catheterization procedure, we were told that Jade only has one coronary artery on the right—none on the left.

After extensive testing and review, the transplant team has confirmed that Jade’s only option is a heart transplant.

As we near the final steps of getting her listed, our entire world revolves around Jade’s survival and care. My husband and I are doing everything we can, but life outside the hospital—bills, travel expenses, and everyday costs—doesn’t stop.

We are humbly asking for your support during this time. Any help, whether through donations, prayers, or simply sharing our story, means the world to us.

From our hearts, thank you for walking this journey with us.

With love,

Lea Gillies and Family