I am Felicitys grandmother. I set this up for my daughter and son-in-law.

They are too proud to ask for help.

This is Felicity's story.

Hi! My name is Felicity. I was born on February 9, 2024. Mommy had a challenging pregnancy with me. We had numerous appointments in the last couple of months before I was born. The doctors said I wasn't thriving, so they had to induce mommy at 37 weeks.

The reason I wasn't thriving is because there were issues with the placenta. The delivery went fine, and they put me in the NICU to keep me warm because I was 4lbs 5oz. Everything was good, and we were sent home on February 11th. But mommy noticed things with me that just weren't right that night. They rushed me to the hospital. I was cold and unresponsive, my temperature had dropped to 94.5°F. They put me in the baby warmer. It was nice in there, but they had so many wires and cords on and around me. I didn't like it at all. I was in there for a bit. Then mommy and daddy got to bring me home. The doctor said I didn't have enough fat to keep me warm, that's why that happened.

I ended up going back to the hospital not long after that. I was having trouble breathing and my lips were bluish. The doctor said I had a cold and my lips were blue because of nursing. Mommy didn't believe that. They made an appointment to have my heart checked. But that wouldn't be until the middle of May.

I had issue after issue. My mommy was persistent. She loves me so much. I was able to see a cardiologist sooner than what was scheduled. Thank goodness. They found something wrong with my heart. Pulmonary valve stenosis. On May 31st, I was supposed to have a catheter put in to blow up a balloon to open my valve. It was a failure. The valve was too stiff. What really made mommy and daddy sad is that 2 more heart issues were found. I would need open-heart surgery on June 4th.

I am strong. I am a warrior. I didn't have much of an appetite after surgery. The nurse put a tube down my nose so I could get my milk that way. I got used to it. I have had really bad gas, even before the surgery my belly would hurt. My mommy wanted me to see a gastroenterologist, but no one would listen.

The nurses and doctors fell in love with me. I am really beautiful after all! I was a really good patient. I would pay attention when the nurses would come in and talk to mommy and G-Ma. I would let them know my thoughts as well. I'm very observant you see.

On June 18, they discharged me. I was ready to go! No more wires, no more tubes. But something happened after I left the hospital and got home. I am gassy, I have stomach pain. I'm throwing up and have diarrhea. So mommy and daddy brought me back to the hospital. Not the one I just got home from, but one closer to where we stay. They're running tests now. They poked me to find a vein. They took my blood! I'm dehydrated. It took almost 2 hours for them to find a vein so I could get fluids.

I'm not happy. My stomach still hurts. Mommy wants me to see a gastroenterologist. She feels something's not right. Maybe someone will listen to her this time.

The hospital where I had surgery was 2.5 hours away from home. Daddy had to take time off of work to see me. He had to borrow a car because ours is broken. We don't have a place of our own right now. Where we are is not healthy for me and my congenital heart disease. Mommy and Daddy are under a lot of stress. They don't even know if my surgery and hospital stay was covered by insurance.

I wish I could really talk. I'd tell Mommy she's doing a great job, but she cries too much.

Please take some of the stress away.