Help Rhiannon’s Heart Journey: A Chance at Life

Nickolas Yager is organizing this fundraiser.

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Dear friends, family, and compassionate supporters, We are reaching out to you with heavy hearts and a sense of urgency. Our beloved daughter, Rhiannon Yager, was born on March 30, 2023, with a combination of congenital heart disease and a rare syndrome known as heterotaxy. Her journey has been filled with challenges, resilience, and hope.

Rhiannon’s Conditions:

Dextrocardia: Her heart is positioned on the right side of her chest, defying the norm.
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): A hole exists in the wall between her heart’s lower chambers.
Pulmonary Atresia: The pulmonary valve, crucial for blood flow to the lungs, is underdeveloped. Complete
Atrioventricular Canal Defect (CAVC): Holes exist between her heart’s chambers, affecting all four chambers.
Asplenia: Her spleen is absent, impacting her immune system.

The chances of being born with this combination of conditions are staggeringly rare—approximately 1 in 60 million live births. Rhiannon has already undergone one open-heart surgery for total vein repair, and she currently has a stent in her Patent Ductus Arteriosus. These temporary measures have sustained her, allowing her to grow larger and prepare for the complex surgical repair that lies ahead.

The Complex Surgical Journey: Rhiannon’s heart requires intricate intervention. Four procedures must occur simultaneously to restore proper function permanently. Here in St. Petersburg, Florida, she was given a 20% mortality rate. Faced with this daunting reality, we have made the difficult decision to seek help at Boston Children’s Hospital—one of the world’s premier pediatric cardiac centers.

Why Boston Children’s Hospital?

Expertise: Boston Children’s Hospital pioneers treatments for conditions like Rhiannon’s.
Bi-Ventricular Repair: Their specialized approach offers better surgical outcomes.
Success Stories: Boston has delivered successful repairs for children with similar complexities.

The Emotional and Financial Toll: Our family faces emotional strain as we leave our home, uncertain of what lies ahead. Financially, this journey is challenging. Boston is 20 hours from home, we will be driving just over 2,600 miles round trip. We are being told to plan for up to 60 days in Boston to allow for pre-op testing, surgery, healing, and post-op follow up. Only one parent can be in the patient’s room past 11 PM, we will have a room at a nearby housing facility. BCH provides housing assistance at a discounted rate at a housing complex near the Hospital. Parking is not available at the housing complex, patient families must park their car at a nearby parking garage or at the hospital, both options have a daily fee.

Financial Breakdown

Housing - $75/day
Hospital Parking Fee - $11/day
Fuel Round Trip - $600

How You Can Help: We humbly ask for your financial support during this critical time. Our responsibilities at home remain, and the unexpected costs of this trip create a hardship we cannot bear alone. Your contribution will directly impact Rhiannon’s chance at life, her healing process, and our families needs during this difficult time.

Donate, Share, and Be Part of Rhiannon’s Miracle: Every dollar counts. Please consider donating to Rhiannon’s GoFundMe campaign. Share her story with your network, and let’s rally together to give her the best chance possible.