Little Miracle
Meet Arabella—my beautiful, petite, bundle of joy cousin, who is a little miracle. She has two blue eyes, two arms and legs, and also a little hole in her heart.
When Arabella was in the womb, the doctors told my Aunt & Uncle the news about her development and were uncertain if she would make it.
But this strong little girl persevered.
She was born with a redirected heart path, as well as two holes in her heart. This past year, she had a Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) procedure done, stating that she was cleared, as the larger hole closed at 3 and 1/2 years. Although she is still a beautiful, normal, strong little girl, she has to be watched more closely than others, in case any complications come up. When she gets a little sick—it's more dangerous than our common cold. Even the the Gatlinburg wildfires caused many problems for her. Without Children's Miracle Network hospitals, she wouldn't have been able to get the ultrasounds, appointments, and tests necessary for her health.
As a true little miracle, the tissue grew by itself closing around one of the holes. This was her saving grace, as her redirected pathway does not allow for a heart catheterization and device procedure. She still has one hole, and interesting enough 25% of people who have it, don't know they do.
I share this personal story of my family in hopes that you'll consider donating to my local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, to help save children like Arabella. I truly can't imagine a world without that blonde-haired, dimpled-cheeks, beautiful bundle of joy in our family. She’s one of the many reasons I am standing For the Kids on April 7th, 2018, and the reason I will always be fighting for children like her.
Arabella was treated at a CMN hospital, and I find it incredibly unique that I'm able to raise money for a hospital that treats children just like her. If you aren't able to donate, please share this in hopes that it will get the word out of the impact Children's Miracle Network Hospitals have on their patients, and hopefully impact other people as well.
A big thank you to my Aunt Joni and Uncle Matt for letting me share her story and for raising such a beautiful family, while always giving Arabella the best care, prayers and love possible.