Junior Diaz is 8 years old and currently going through one of the hardest times of his life. Junior was admitted to Children's Hospital in active heart failure on January 17th. Caitlin, Junior's mom, had taken him to the hospital numerous times over the course of three weeks and was told he was severely constipated. In January, Junior became lethargic, pale, swollen and began passing out. He was then admitted to the hospital and will be there until he receives a new heart. During this time, Junior was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. This caused his kidneys and liver to also shut down. While trying to figure out what medications would help Junior, one of the trial meds caused a kidney injury. On January 30th, the hospital started doing muscle biopsies after they found a rare genetic mutation that was causing the heart defect. Junior also had to have a heart catheter placed. Junior's muscle biopsy came back okay which cleared him to receive an artificial heart for children called Berlin Vad. This is an implanted device that acts as the heart until a transplant becomes available. On February 19th, Junior went in for his procedure and had the artificial heart put in. The surgery went well and within three days he sat up for the first time. At the beginning of March, Junior was placed on the transplant list. Every three months, the hospital has to change out and clean the tubes that are in the artificial heart attached to Junior. If at any point oxygen gets inside of those tubes, it could be fatal.

Caitlin has worked as a CNA for multiple years. She has worked two jobs consistently for several years. At this time, Caitlin is unable to work due to having to be in the hospital with Junior and taking care of her other children. Junior has now been in the hospital for almost 5 months. He cannot leave the hospital until after he has a heart transplant. The hospital is unable to tell them if this could be a waiting time of weeks, months or years. We are asking for any financial help that anyone can gift. This money will be used to help pay medical bills, buy groceries and help them survive until they can return to their every day normal lives. Please join us in raising money to help Junior and his family and help us share Junior's story.