Hello, my name is Gabrielle Basile, and I am the proud mom of my 15-year-old son, Julien Basile.

Recently, during what we thought would be a routine sports physical, the doctor heard what sounded like a heart murmur. We were referred to a cardiologist, who performed an ultrasound. What they were originally looking for turned out to be fine — but during that ultrasound, they discovered something completely unexpected: a potential left coronary artery abnormality.

Later that month, Julien underwent a CT scan of his heart, which confirmed the diagnosis. This condition is very rare — only found in about 1% of children — and unfortunately, my son is part of that 1%. Because of this, Julien will need open-heart surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. This surgery is necessary to correct the problem and allow Julien to live an active, healthy, and normal life.

While we are doing everything we can to prepare, there will be significant medical expenses, and there is a strong chance our insurance will not cover all of them. I am working hard to cover as much as I can personally, but we will still need help.

If you are able to support us — financially or by sharing this message — it would mean the world to me and my family. Every contribution, big or small, helps us bring Julien through this surgery safely and with less stress.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and keeping us in your prayers.