With tears streaming down my face and my hand resting on my swollen belly, I sit here writing this at 8 months pregnant, my heart shattered yet overflowing with a mother’s fierce, unbreakable love. My name is Teddy, and together with my devoted husband Oscar, we are the proud parents of our joyful 11-month-old son Karin — our sweet Tiny — who lights up our world with his giggles, curious crawls, and endless energy. We were so excited to welcome his little brother — our second baby boy — but just days ago, our dreams turned into a nightmare when doctors delivered the devastating news: our unborn son has hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

This serious congenital heart defect means the left side of his tiny heart never fully developed in the womb. It simply cannot pump oxygen-rich blood to his body the way it needs to. The diagnosis hit us like a crushing wave — one moment we were happily preparing for a growing family filled with brotherly laughter and shared toys, and the next we were facing the terrifying possibility that our baby might need life-saving intervention the very moment he takes his first breath. The fear is constant. The nights are long. Every kick I feel now carries both joy and worry. We cry, we pray, and we hold each other tighter, determined to give both our boys the brightest future possible.

That future now depends on getting to the right place at the right time. The only hospital fully equipped with the expert team, advanced technology, and specialized experience to give our baby boy the very best chance is Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver. Their Heart Institute is renowned for outstanding outcomes in complex cases like HLHS — many families there have shared stories of babies who beat the odds and go on to thrive, play, and live full lives thanks to the skilled surgeons and compassionate staff. They even participate in leading research that brings new hope to families like ours.

On Thursday, we will load up our car and make the emotional 377-mile drive (roughly 7 hours) from our home in Farmington, New Mexico, to Denver. I will remain at or near the hospital until the doctors decide whether to induce labor or allow our baby to arrive naturally. My husband Oscar and I will stay close so we never have to leave our son’s side during those critical first days and weeks. Our energetic Tiny will come with us, turning what should be a simple family road trip into a journey filled with anxiety, suitcases of diapers and toys, and prayers whispered at every mile marker.

This unexpected trip has placed an enormous financial burden on our young family. Neither Oscar nor I can work while we’re away, and the costs are piling up fast: gas for the long drive and any return trips home, lodging near the hospital so we can be there for every update and every hug, food and daily essentials for all of us (including our toddler’s needs), extra supplies, and any medical expenses not fully covered by insurance. Weeks away from home could easily stretch longer as our baby receives the specialized care he requires — possibly including the first in a series of complex heart surgeries.

Yet through the tears and the fear, our hearts are filled with hope. We dream of the day we bring our little fighter home — watching him grow strong, chasing his big brother Tiny around the house, sharing toys, and filling our home with even more laughter and love. We are committed to asking the doctors every important question about his specific case, the treatment path ahead, long-term outlook, and the wonderful family support resources available at Children’s Colorado. We believe in the power of modern medicine, the skill of these dedicated teams, and the miracles that happen when a community rallies around a family in need.

Right now, we need your help more than ever. Any donation — no matter how small, even $5, $10, or $20 — will directly ease this heavy weight so we can focus entirely on loving and fighting for our sons instead of worrying about how we’ll afford a place to sleep or meals on the table. Sharing our story spreads the love and wraps our family in the prayers and support we desperately need during this scary but hopeful chapter.

From the deepest corners of our hearts, thank you. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with us as we walk this road. We are holding tightly to faith that our baby boy will become one of the beautiful success stories — a resilient little warrior who gets to live a long, joyful life surrounded by the family who loves him more than words can say.

With endless gratitude, tears, and unwavering hope,

Teddy & Oscar

Loving (and fiercely protective) parents to our 11-month-old Tiny and our soon-to-be baby boy ❤️