Support Savannah's Heart Transplant Journey

Please help support The Signor's Family Heart Transplant Journey

Savannahs journey..

A little over a year ago, Savannah, our beautiful 6 year old niece started getting sick often, developing pneumonia and coughs that just never seemed to go away, she was lethargic, and started to loose weight. She has been in and out of the hospital more than most kids her age with what we thought was asthma only to find out, after so long, that she was misdiagnosed and actually has something called Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM). RCM is a condition in which the heart does not stretch in the relaxation phase when it needs to fill with blood because the muscle has become constricted. Although the heart continues to beat, it does not pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, and this will cause the child to have congestive heart failure. It is a rare disorder and the most serious type of cardiomyopathy with the fewest treatment options. Children with this rare condition develop symptoms of congestive heart failure and require a heart transplant. There are also many other complications that can come along with RCM such as lungs filling with fluid, organ failure, failure to thrive and sadly much more.
Savannah has been through so much, she is resilient and a fighter but she really needs a new heart. She had been listed out-patient and on the transplant list but sadly, her conditon has changed. Unfortunately, after a beautiful birthday weekend for our sister, filled with laughter and making memories, Savi was rushed to the ER where they admitted her due to cardiac function decrease. Her echo showed increased pressure on the heart and continuous fluid build-up in her lungs. Her Cardiac team made the tough decision to admit her to be in-patient at UCSF Children’s Bennioff Hospital San Francisco, which would change her status for getting a new heart to 1A on the transplant list. (top of the list in terms of need) This difficult decision came after having to do blood transfusions and put her on oxygen and other medicines.

It seemed like Savannah was stabilizing but after 2 very serious cardiac events, another tough deciscion was made. On July 31st she had a very long, risky surgery, especially for RCM patients,  where they implanted the Berlin Heart Device. This device has only been implanted in roughly 1000 children world wide to help her heart while we wait for her 'miracle' heart.  This is a bridge to transplant. Savannah is still recovering and remains intubated. This is a slow healing process but once she is healed from the surgery, she will feel alot better and be back on the transplant list. Savannah will remain in the ICU until her angel heart arrives. She will be connected to the heart pump but have some mobilty.

Our sister Jessica and her husband Edwin are the most incredibly dedicated, positive, fun loving, hardworking parents we know. They are trying to keep their spirits up but it’s been a really rough road for the whole family. Life changed real quick. Little 4 year old Faye has also seen her world turn upside down.

While Savannah was out-patient, Jessie and Edwin had managed to switch nights staying at the hospital every time she’s been admitted so that they can continue to work to survive and spend time with Faye and now they have truly entered into a long term sitauion with this routine. It could be a year or more , hopefully less. Covid has made this situation even harder. Family visits are not allowed at this time so they are taking individial turns to be with each of their girls every few days and are still working when they can. This is not really sustainable and with this Go- Fund -Me we hope to help take some of the stress off this current reality. Jessie and her husband have pushed back on doing this Go-Fund-Me for months but they now know there are so many people wanting to help and they realize it takes a village.

With lost wages, expenses continue to pile up for their regular household bills such as rent, food, utilities, car payments, pre-school and more. They are also trying to figure out how to fund meals, parking and bridge tolls etc. We also, eventually hope to find someone to help with Faye as well.

This is a long journey and although Savannha and the whole family have gone through so much, in a way this journey is just beginning. The road to transplant and life after transplant is a long one. We know that the donations will likley exceed the asking amount, but this will allow them to continue to navigate the unknown of waiting  for a heart transplant -otherwise know as her “Angel Heart”.  Any amount you can contribute to Team Savannha's  Heart Warrior fund would truly be a blessing. 

Please share our Go-Fund-Me with your friends and family as often as you can and ask them to spread the word. Lastly, Edwin and Jessie ak you to remember Savannah in your prayers and to continue to send healing energy her way. Our beautiful heart warrior needs all your positivity. Thank you all for your giving heart and support. We are forever grateful.