Help support Aria's healing journey from rare sternal cleft
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I am a proud aunt of an amazing 3-year-old named Aria. Shortly after Aria was born, her parents noticed a bulge in her neck when she cried and an indent over her heart where there should have been bone. After seeing doctor after doctor, they finally found out what was wrong and discovered that Aria was born with a "sternal cleft" where her sternum did not fuse together, leaving a large gap where bone should have been, not protecting her chest. She did not have a complete chest wall. This is a super rare incident, with less than 0.1% of chest wall deformities. Her parents were told she would need major surgery when she turned 3. Aria turned 3 this year and recently had this life-changing surgery. They did a rib graft and took cartilage from her ribs to reconstruct a sternum that will harden into bone over the next 6 months. We are all thrilled Aria has a chest wall, but her recovery will be long. For the next 6 months until the cartilage hardens into bone, Aria is restricted—falls/impacts could be super damaging. This means she can't attend preschool, go to playgrounds, swimming pools, trampolines, etc. She can't be picked up under her arms and must be moved a certain way. She can't lift anything over 1 pound. She is a wild, energetic 3-year-old, and a parent has to stay with her around the clock.
As you can imagine, all of this has put a lot of anxiety, fears, and financial strain on her parents—reducing incomes, missing work, and more.
Anything donated will go directly to my sister and her husband (Aria's parents) for financial help during her healing journey. I asked them if I could make this for them and they accepted. They are very appreciative people and I know they will be eternally grateful.
Please, please keep Aria and her family in your thoughts and/or prayers over the next 6 months as she continues to heal.
Video on Aria's story:
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News article on Aria:
Organizer
Madison W
Organizer
Charlotte, NC