Support Alianna Grace and the Cordell Family.

Before Alianna Grace was born, her parents, Dawn and Doug Cordell were told that she would be born with Transposition of the Great Arteries. TGA is a serious and rare heart condition in which the two main arteries are switched. Since Sioux Falls does not have a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon to perform this transposition, they were referred to Children’s Nebraska of Omaha, where Alianna was delivered early, at 37 weeks. Normally, this Transposition of the Greater Arteries is performed during the first week after birth, but sweet Alianna’s heart was a bit more complicated than expected, and they were unable to perform the transposition because it was too high risk, and the doctors wanted to wait until she was at least four months old if at all possible. Sadly, Alianna had more complications when she returned home to Sioux Falls, so she was flown back to Omaha for an emergency stent placement. After she was released, the family was home for about a month when Alianna’s oxygen levels suddenly dipped dangerously low, and they found themselves back in Omaha. This time, due to additional complications, the surgeon decided that he needed to open up Alianna's chest and said that they would either place a shunt, or if he thought it was possible, transpose the greater arteries. Ultimately, the surgeon ended up transposing the greater arteries, replacing her pulmonary valve, taking out her atrial stent, doing an aorta patch to her left ventricle, closing the ASD (small hole in her upper chamber) and enlarging the VSD (hole in the lower part of her heart), so her blood is able to mix better. On top of that, doctors say that Alianna will also need additional surgeries over the next 15 to 18 years to replace her pulmonary valve. Over the course of 9 weeks, her parents have spent about a month in Omaha and were told that Alianna will need to stay in Omaha for the next 4 to 8 weeks, or until she is strong enough to go home. So, as you can imagine, the medical bills, travel expenses, lodging, loss of wages, etc., are a huge burden on this young family. Dawn and Doug also have another daughter, Avery Jo, who is in first grade, and they are greatly missing their time together, so things have been pretty tough all the way around. I would like to thank you in advance for any support you may offer! I know Dawn and Doug will greatly appreciate your kindness and generosity!