Help mend Ivy's heart

Ivy Rayne was born with a congenital heart defect called a complete atrioventricular canal defect (AVSD). A defect leaving her with holes that separate the four chambers of her heart and problems with the heart valves. This requires her to have open heart surgery between 3 and 4 months old. She was expected to go home and grow big and strong to prepare her for open heart surgery to save her life.

Ivy showed symptoms of heart failure right away and, on day 8 of life, was admitted to the NICU at Children’s National Hospital for five days. She was able to go home but returned shortly after. Ivy has been in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) for 39 days. She showed symptoms of severe heart failure with numbers not heard of. The amount of blood going to her lungs was six times the amount going to her body. She has already undergone heart surgery to place bands around her pulmonary arteries to help with her heart failure at around seven weeks old. Thanks to the abundance of prayer from all of you, Ivy is stable. She is full of life and loves to smile. She has had many complications due to the lack of perfusion to her major organs. She is expected to stay in the hospital until her subsequent open-heart surgery to repair her heart.

The hospital is over an hour from home, making this journey much more difficult. Ivy’s parents, Britney and Jeremee have been by her bedside daily. Each takes turns to be at home with their 2-year-old. Being away from home and family has been very hard on all of them. Her big sister misses her dearly. A long-term hospital stay was not in the plan, but life doesn't always go as planned. Unfortunately, we do not know how long they will be required to stay in DC or how long recovery will take for sweet Ivy.

The family has greatly appreciated the outpouring of love, support, and prayers. Baby Ivy is loved by so many. This journey has been a true testimony of faith. God has shown how faithful He is through so many of you. Asking for help is never easy. We, as her family, humbly ask that you continue to pray for Ivy’s healing and recovery so this family can be reunited. We ask that you pray for the nurses, doctors, and surgeons on her team. Please pray for her parents and sister as they go through this subsequent open-heart surgery. If you have it in your heart or the ability to donate, we would greatly appreciate it. If you are unable, we welcome your prayers, for we know anything is possible with our God. Please share and pass their story along. This money will help with the abundance of medical bills, food, lodging, parking, and other necessities. We are grateful for any help. We pray that God uses Ivy’s testimony for the glory of His kingdom and give hope to other families.

We thank you,

Ivy’s Family