Reiss was born with a complex congenital heart defect called congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (cc-TGA). 

 

She has undergone 4 open heart surgeries and is pacemaker dependent. During her most recent (Jan 2024) in patient stay at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX, she went into cardiac arrest in the heart cath lab after open heart surgery and suffered multiple watershed strokes. 

 

Reiss is now living in terminal heart failure as she recovers from her January 2024 surgery, cardiac arrest, and stroke.  She fights daily a new battle - to continue to gain strength with her native heart and stay out of the hospital as long as possible. Ultimately, Reiss will need a heart transplant (not currently on the transplant list) to survive once her heart failure continues to decline.

 

Until then, Reiss loves her cows (just ask her about Raymona and if she has had her baby calf yet), being a junior high student, cooking, and singing.

 

Please help us find new methods to extend Reiss's unique heart's lifespan by walking and donating to further research.