I’m living in a nightmare no mother can ever imagine. My name is China Reynolds , and I’m the mother of my 1-year-old son, August.

August’s journey began when he went in for what was supposed to be a routine procedure to figure out why his heart was failing. During that procedure, he went into cardiac arrest for seven minutes. Thanks to immediate and hard CPR, he was resuscitated and stabilized, but the next day, he arrested again for three minutes.

After this, his care team told me he was one cardiac arrest away from death. To prevent an almost third arrest, August had to remain sedated and be put on a paralytic. My world shattered as I watched my baby in this state, and I had to make the unimaginable choice to put him on a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) the only way he was able to survive, knowing it carries a risk of stroke for as long as he will be on it.

Now, August is waiting for a life-saving heart transplant. Doctors have told us the wait could be anywhere from 6 months to a year, and every single day during that time is critical. As his mother, there is nothing harder than watching him fight for his life and feeling powerless.

August also has a 5-year-old autistic brother, who needs both of us at home as much as possible, which makes this journey even more challenging. I am raising money so I can stay by August’s side full-time while he waits for a donor heart, covering hospital stays, travel, and daily living expenses.

Our story has been shared on CBS News Detroit and in an MLive Ann Arbor article, and we are so grateful for the support we’ve received so far. But we still have a long road ahead.

If you are able to donate, share, or even just say a prayer for August, it would mean everything to our family. Every share brings us closer to someone who can help save his life.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting my baby boy.

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How Funds Will Be Used

All donations will go directly to support my son, August, during his heart transplant journey. Funds will help cover:

1. Medical Expenses – Any costs his insurance may not cover.

2. Travel Expenses – Gas, or transportation to and from the hospital to visit August .

3. Lodging – Hotels or temporary housing near the hospital while August is receiving care.

4. Daily Essentials – Food, parking, and other necessities while I remain by his side.

5. Support for Family Needs – bills and rent to keep us stable so that August has an home to return to, and Assistance in caring for his older brother, Major, during this challenging time.