Join the Kucks Family in Support and Healing Hope for Miriam

Dear Friends and Family,

 I never thought I would find myself writing a letter like this one, but here it goes. On Tuesday, October 29th, Gabby and I found out that the baby we are having is a little girl, and on Friday, November 1st, we found out that she has a rare heart condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). The problem essentially is that the baby’s left ventricle and the artery leading out of it are too small to properly pump blood to the rest of the body. The doctors informed us that three open-heart surgeries have been developed since the 1980s that have saved the lives of about 70% of infants born with HLHS. The first of these surgeries will occur in the first two weeks after birth, and our baby will then spend several weeks or months at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. The second operation will happen sometime between 3-6 months, and the final procedure will occur between 2 and 4 years old. All of these surgeries allow the heart to function on one ventricle, but they are ultimately a temporary solution. Most people with HLHS require a heart transplant at some point later in their lives. Obviously, this news has been incredibly overwhelming for Gabby and me. We’ve decided to name our baby Miriam, so in your prayers, please pray specifically for Miriam’s miraculous healing, for strength and unity for our family, and for Gabby and myself as we continue to process and grieve this news. Thank you all in advance for your love and support. The fact that we are surrounded by so many loving people has been a great encouragement to us in facing this news. We covet your prayers as the inducement day, March 3rd, quickly approaches. Thank you!

 In Christ, Ross Kucks