Laila's Story

Finding out at just 20 weeks pregnant that my daughter, Laila, would be born with congenital heart disease was one of the most devastating moments of my life. The doctors told us to brace ourselves. They warned us that Laila’s life would be a long, uphill battle.

And then came one of the hardest days I have ever experienced: driving away from the hospital and having to leave my baby girl behind. That hospital would become Laila’s home for the next nine months.

During those nine months, the incredible team at UNC Health fought alongside Laila through countless procedures and challenges, doing everything they could to keep her little heart beating. From heart and lung catheterizations to open-heart surgery, every day brought another reason to pray, another mountain to climb, and another opportunity to witness the strength of this tiny girl.

I will forever be grateful for the nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, cardiologists, pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, ECMO specialists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, and the countless other people who cared for Laila.

Fast-forward to today: Laila is not simply surviving she is thriving.

That little heart continues to beat in part because of campaigns like this that help fund the research and advancements that give babies and adults living with heart disease more hope, more options, and more time.

Join our team today or support by donating towards our fundraising goal.