My name is Heather French, and I am the proud mother of a beautiful, resilient little boy named Jay. As a parent, you never imagine you’ll find yourself navigating the complexities of cardiac ICUs and long-term hospital stays. This year has pushed me harder than I ever thought possible, and there is a "silent sadness" in a child's eyes that only a parent can truly feel. But Jay is my hero—he is a little warrior who has shown me what true strength looks like, and I am determined to be by his side every step of the way as we fight for his recovery.

Since January, Jay has been facing a daunting series of health challenges. What started as a struggle with weight gain due to subsequent illnesses led to a hospitalization at Inova in March to optimize his health for a necessary heart surgery. While we’ve had to balance life with his siblings and a new baby brother at home, Jay’s health became our primary focus as he prepared for the biggest fight of his life.

In early April, we faced a major crisis when Jay's lung collapsed due to significant fluid buildup. He was moved to the ICU and placed on a ventilator to stabilize him. On April 16th, Jay finally underwent heart surgery. While the surgeon successfully repaired his heart, the recovery for his lungs has been a significant uphill battle.

In the midst of the tubes and monitors, we’ve seen such incredible kindness from Jay's care team. To help him through the stress, the nurses gave him a special stuffed swordfish. He has been holding onto it tightly—it’s a small, sweet piece of comfort for our brave boy.

​After surgery, I finally got to hold my sweet boy in my arms again after two agonizing weeks. It was a beautiful moment, but unfortunately, Jay’s lung collapsed again shortly after. As of April 24th, he has been re-intubated to allow his body more time to rest while the pulmonary team determines the next steps to help him breathe.

We are currently staying at the Ronald McDonald House to be near the hospital for what looks to be a "long haul." While we are grateful that Jimmy’s work has been supportive, the reality of long-term hospitalization brings unexpected financial burdens. We are reaching out for help with:

​Other ways to support:

If you aren't able to donate, we treasure your thoughts, prayers, and healing frequencies. If you’d like to send a card or a drawing for Jay to brighten his room, please message us for the address to the Ronald McDonald House.

​Thank you for following Jay’s journey. He is a fighter, and we are waiting for the day this is all just a distant memory.

​Direct Donations:

​PayPal: @hfrench92

​Venmo: @James-Molloy-11