Help Raven Get the Care She Needs

This is our daughter, Raven. She is one of the kindest, silliest, toughest kids you will ever meet. In August of 2024, we took Raven for a routine sports physical. To our surprise, it was discovered that she had heart issues that we were very unaware of. She had been a competitive cheerleader her entire life, and we had never noticed any symptoms that would have given us indications of these issues. We immediately set up multiple appointments to begin to find the extent of her condition.

In the coming months, Raven saw multiple general doctors, cardiologists, EP doctors, and genetic experts. These professionals have completed countless EKGs, ECHO tests, cardiac MRIs, stress tests, Holter monitors, medications, DNA tests, and a performed failed surgery. Unfortunately, after all this time and effort, we still do not have many answers for Raven.

In early January 2025, Raven was hospitalized in the cardiac ICU as her condition progressed. Her symptoms began to worsen, and her quality of life was exceptionally limited. Over an 8 day span, the doctors tried multiple combinations of medication to stabilize her heart. While her team was working diligently to find solutions, Ravens heart rejected each option thrown at it. The one positive that came from the medications were that her episodes moved slightly further apart, providing her some relief. Unfortunately, Raven is still having nearly 200 dangerous arrhythmia episodes each day.

One of the most curious, yet frustrating parts of this process has been the results of one of Ravens DNA tests. The results came back that she has a gene modification that has never been seen before. Her team researched each DNA case completed around the world, and there have been no documented cases of her modification anywhere. This also means that there has been no research on this gene, which makes this all the more challenging. Her heart is literally one in a billion!

It has become abundantly clear that this road will not be an easy one moving forward. As of February 2025, Ravens medical team decided that her condition is too advanced to be dealt with in Nevada. Ravens case has now been transferred to UCLA in Southern California for further care. Thankfully, the facilities are far more equipped for treatment, and the surgeons are some of the most renowned in the world. We remain hopeful that they will be able to put a plan into place to get Ravens heart healthy.

Raven is scheduled for her second surgery upcoming in late June. This will be a far more risky surgery than the first, but is necessary to attempt to control her heart. She is unfortunately losing 2-4% of her heart functions every month, and her symptoms have become much more severe. We have also learned that additional damage has occured in her valves due to the constant arrhythmia issues, which may require additional surgeries to repair.

At the point we are at, we are in need of assistance to help cover not only medical bills, but cost of living, travel expenses and lodging as well. With all of our time and focus being placed at Raven's side, our source of income has been limited. Any help you are able to provide would be greatly appreciated.

We cannot thank you enough from the bottom of our hearts for helping us in our time of need!