6 year old Genisis was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. In hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left side of the heart can't properly supply blood to the body. That's because the lower left chamber (left ventricle) is too small or isn't there. Also, the valves on the left side of the heart (aortic valve and mitral valve) don't work properly, and the main artery leaving the heart (aorta) is smaller than usual.

After birth, the right side of a baby's heart can pump blood both to the lungs and to the rest of the body through a blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery directly to the aorta (ductus arteriosus). The oxygen-rich blood returns to the right side of the heart through a natural opening (foramen ovale) between the right chambers of the heart.

When the ductus arteriosus and the foramen ovale close — which they usually do after the first day or two of life — the right side of the heart has no way to pump blood to the body. Babies with hypoplastic left heart syndrome need medication to keep these connections open and keep blood flowing to the body until they have heart surgery.

Genesis was admitted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital to have her third and last stage of her heart surgeries but on day 2 she had a cardiac event that caused her heart to stop. After performing CPR, they put her on ECMO, which is a heart and lung bypass machine. Without that machine she would not be with us. After some investigation, they found a blood clot in her aorta which they cleared but her heart is not beating on its own. The EKG showed signs that it wants to work but not much, as of this morning the heart is showing more signs of wanting to work on it’s own but it’s not where the doctors want her to be. They are also consulting with the transplant team but the chance of that happening is rare.

Her parents have to travel almost 200 miles to be with her, leaving her siblings behind. She has 3 older brothers and a 1 year old baby sister.

The family desperately need help with finances for travel, accommodation, food and child care expenses.

This is a critical time for Genesis. If you can pray for her, it would be most welcomed. If you can donate to help this young family out, it would be sincerely appreciated.