Zack and Braelyn welcomed their sweet baby girl, Clara, to their family on June 18th—a moment they had been looking forward to with so much excitement. But just a day after bringing Clara home, Braelyn, who has Marfan’s disease, experienced a life-threatening complication. She was rushed to the ER with an aortic dissection and underwent emergency open heart surgery. After receiving a mechanical aortic valve and other critical repairs, Braelyn’s heart needed time to recover, so she was placed on life support and transferred to OHSU, then to Seattle to await a heart transplant.



With Braelyn in Seattle, Zack is back home in Eugene, caring for their newborn and toddler alone during peak wildfire season. He’s doing everything he can to keep life stable and normal for the kids, but the challenges are immense. Braelyn has family with her in Seattle, while Zack relies on friends and family nearby, but being the only parent at home means ongoing expenses for childcare and daily needs.



Your support can help Zack cover the costs of caring for two young children while Braelyn fights for her life far from home. Any donation or share of their story will make a real difference for this little family as they navigate an incredibly difficult time.