Lexi's Heart Transplant

Meet Lexi, my 17 year old daughter that happened to be born with Hypo-Plastic Left Heart Syndrome, or HLHS for short. Being born with HLHS means that Lexi’s body is deprived of oxygen rich blood, which is controlled by the left side of her heart. Due to her condition she was put through 3 open heart surgeries before she turned four. The first surgery occurred when Lexi was only five days old. This surgery is known as Norwood and creates a “new” aorta connected to the right side of the heart, allowing it to pump oxygen to her lungs and the rest of her body. The second time Lexi had open heart surgery was when she was one. The Glenn Shunt Procedure and her third was the Fontan when she was nearly four years old. Unfortunately, these are not the only procedures Lexi underwent, she has had countless heart cath’s throughout her life. Her most recent heart cath took place on October 27th of this year. The procedure went well, however the post operation check up took a turn for the worse. We met with her usually cardiologist along with a new transplant doctor. We walked into the appointment hoping for good news. Unfortunately, we left the appointment without the good news we wanted. We learned Lexi would be needing a heart transplant before she turns 18 in March. One month before the transplant, in January or February, Lexi will be admitted and placed on medicine to prepare her body for the transplant. She will not be able to leave the hospital for at least three months after her initial check in date, spending her 18th birthday in a hospital room. Until the transplant is needed, Lexi was placed on home oxygen which she uses as needed and new meds for her condition. 


Lexi is my oldest of three daughters. I have recently had to enroll my three daughters into online school due to Lexi’s increased chance of getting the CoronaVirus. Additionally, I have had to take less shifts and work to decrease my exposure to the virus. During Lexi’s three months in the hospital I will be completely out of work. I will be back and forth between the hospital with Lexi and the house with my other daughters. I have to think about my other daughters and provide for them during the months I will be out of work. 


Anything you donate will be appreciated and will be put toward covering Lexi’s heart transplant or providing for my other daughters during this difficult time.