On March 17, 2026, my beautiful granddaughter, Hope Elizabeth Centrulla, came into this world and instantly brought so much love and joy to our entire family. In just a few short weeks, she has already shown a strength that humbles all of us.

Not long after my daughter and son-in-law brought her home, their world was turned upside down when they had to return to the hospital. What was first believed to be VSD and ASD has since been diagnosed as something far more complex. Hope has multiple VSDs, often referred to as a “Swiss Cheese” VSD, a rare and serious condition involving many small holes in her heart.

Since then, their lives have been filled with hospital stays, constant appointments, and emotional highs and lows. Hope has needed the support of an NG tube for feeding and has had difficulty gaining weight, making her condition even more urgent.

Our family recently received the devastating news that Hope will need open-heart surgery sooner than anyone hoped. Her case will be presented to specialists at SickKids in Toronto, and in the meantime, she is being admitted to London for further testing and more intensive treatment. There is still so much uncertainty, including how long this journey will last—but we know it is only just beginning.

As a father, it is incredibly difficult to watch my daughter and her husband go through something like this, and even harder to see such a tiny baby fighting such a big battle. But Hope is strong. She is truly our little heart warrior—and we are taking things one day at a time.

With extended hospital stays, frequent travel, time away from work, and the need to care for their other 2-year-old daughter, Noelle, the financial and emotional strain can grow quickly. I am reaching out to ask for support, so they can focus fully on Hope and helping her heal.

Any donation, no matter the amount, would mean more than words can express to our family. If you’re unable to give, we would be deeply grateful if you could share this fundraiser and keep Hope in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for surrounding our family with love, compassion, and support during this incredibly difficult time.