Blake was born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) which we learned about in utero at 25 weeks pregnant. Blake was born at 31 weeks and spent a month in the NICU. She was followed closely by her cardiologist and was doing well her first year of life. She, early on, had typical findings of an incomplete canal with perhaps a little more left AV valve regurgitation than is often the case.

In February 2025, she went into Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), which led to the discovery that she also has Type 1 Diabetes. We were admitted to the PICU to manage both her diabetes and heart condition.

After a stressful stay, we were finally discharged, hoping we were on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, just a week later, we were back in the hospital. The DKA had put a significant strain on her heart, worsening her heart condition. It was then we were told that Blake would need open-heart surgery ASAP.

On April 24, Blake had her first open heart surgery to close her ASD and fix her Mitral valve. Unfortunately the surgery using her own tissue was not successful.

Just 10 weeks after her first open heart surgery, Blake faced her second open heart surgery on July 2nd—this time to replace her mitral valve with a St. Jude valve. Her recovery was tougher and longer, but this surgery showed success! It is now a year later and Blake is showing us what real strength looks like!