Ride for Sami

Samara “Sami” Marie Valencia Giobbie was born July 22nd 2018 to her parents Russell Giobbie and Krissia Valencia. During pregnancy it was discovered that Samara would be born with multiple congenital heart defects including hypoplastic right heart syndrome, tricuspid artesia, transposition of the great arteries and heterotaxy.These defects would require Sami to have multiple open heart surgeries and even a possible heart transplant throughout her lifetime, the first of which being just 4 days after she was born. Sami had her first procedure, a Modified Norwood procedure, on July 26th 2018 and required weeks of hospitalization before she was able to be discharged from the hospital. Her second open heart surgery, a Bi-directional Glenn Procedure, was preformed on January 15th. A few days after being discharged Sami suffered a post-op surgical infection of her surgical incision and needed an unexpected hospital admission and follow up surgery to clean out the infection. After further testing it was discovered that the infection was MRSA, an antibiotic resistant super infection that required Sami to stay in the hospital longer then anticipated to be treated. Sami was finally discharged home and the plan was to allow her to grow and live as normal a life as possible and barring any complications and have her next open heart surgery, a Fontan procedure, at around 2 or 3 years old.
 Unfortunately this was not the case. In May Sami was not feeling and her parents took her to a local hospital. While there Sami suffered a cardiac arrest and her heart stopped. The doctors were able to revive Samara and transport her to New York Presbyterian Columbia Children's hospital in Manhattan. After 4 days they started to take Sami of sedation. She started having seizures. The hospital ran tests and soon found out during her cardiac arrest, she suffered an ischemic stoke which resulted in brain damage. Sami lost the use of her right arm and hand and lost the ability to swallow food and water. She was placed on an NG feeding tube. After being released from the hospital Sami has been recieving intense Occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech and swallow therapy 3 times a week for each. Fortunately the therapy has been helping. She is far from being back to normal but thankfully some of the function in her arm and hand has returned. She is still on the feeding tube but she is able to take small amounts of food and drink by mouth again.
Samaras medical bills were already high from the scheduled surgeries alone. Now after this recent unexpected hospitalization and outpatient needs her medical bills are pouring in and are at an all time high. Russell and Krissia already have so much on their plates focusing on Samara and her recovery from her latest setback. Worrying about how they are going to pay her medical bills and outpatient care is an additional huge stressor that they do not need at this already difficult time.