Our precious little fighter
Donation protected
Gianna Persia was born on July 9, 2018. Three days later, she had open heart surgery to correct 4 heart defects. They successfully corrected 3 of the 4 with the surgery and the 4th has been slowly healing as she gets bigger.
The heart surgery was a success, but since the surgery Gianna has had many complications that have kept her in the hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, NC and currently at Brenner's Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem.
But for about 2 brief, week-long stays at home, Gianna has spent more than 90% of her young life in the hospital NICUs with a variety of machines and cables connected! She has been on a feeding tube the majority of the time as we all await the day that she will be able to receive normal milk nourishment as most healthy babies. One, or both of her parents have been at Gianna's hospital bedside 24x7 since July 9th with extended family helping to care for their other 4-year child.
Gianna's complications have varied, but her team of doctors are currently struggling to find why fluid continues to gather around her lungs impairing her breathing - a leak somewhere, but where? Until this mystery is diagnosed and treated, she will remain in the NICU.
Even with health insurance, lengthy stays in the hospital intensive care units incur monumental medical bills and, as we all know, insurance policies do not cover 100% of medical costs. Plus, now they are in a situation where their company's medical leave benefits are expiring and like most two-earner family's, will have to adjust to the loss of at least one income.
Your donation to help Gianna's family with these costs as well as daily living expenses are very much appreciated. Needless-to-say, your prayers for Gianna are requested even more.
Your help is very much appreciated!
Thank you!
The heart surgery was a success, but since the surgery Gianna has had many complications that have kept her in the hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, NC and currently at Brenner's Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem.
But for about 2 brief, week-long stays at home, Gianna has spent more than 90% of her young life in the hospital NICUs with a variety of machines and cables connected! She has been on a feeding tube the majority of the time as we all await the day that she will be able to receive normal milk nourishment as most healthy babies. One, or both of her parents have been at Gianna's hospital bedside 24x7 since July 9th with extended family helping to care for their other 4-year child.
Gianna's complications have varied, but her team of doctors are currently struggling to find why fluid continues to gather around her lungs impairing her breathing - a leak somewhere, but where? Until this mystery is diagnosed and treated, she will remain in the NICU.
Even with health insurance, lengthy stays in the hospital intensive care units incur monumental medical bills and, as we all know, insurance policies do not cover 100% of medical costs. Plus, now they are in a situation where their company's medical leave benefits are expiring and like most two-earner family's, will have to adjust to the loss of at least one income.
Your donation to help Gianna's family with these costs as well as daily living expenses are very much appreciated. Needless-to-say, your prayers for Gianna are requested even more.
Your help is very much appreciated!
Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Heather Schaeffer
Organizer
Oak Ridge, NC
Mary Persia
Beneficiary
