Story
Hi, I’m Lexie! Makenna Jo’s momma. Our girl has been in the hospital most of her life. Makenna was born with a congenital heart defect. They didn’t find it until she was 13 days old after her pediatrician heard a heart murmur. She had a large VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect) measuring 5.5mm. She sees a cardiologist once a month, and we were given hope that it would close on its own without surgical repair.
Since Makenna was 6 weeks old, we’ve been in and out of hospitalizations for her work of breathing (retracting) and also tracheal tugging. The first time she was transported to Lexington by ambulance, we were just there overnight. The second hospitalization was so they could monitor her body for all the medicines they were putting her on to control the breathing. The third time she was admitted for failure to thrive because she completely stopped gaining weight. All of these are side effects from the VSD. It’s allowing the oxygenated blood in her heart to flow back into her lungs and is filling them up, causing it to be hard to breathe. Her body is working so hard to breathe; that’s why she can’t gain weight.
As of now, my baby is on the NG tube and is gaining proper weight for her to have open-heart surgery. Her insurance has sadly failed her. I received a letter stating that the services were denied for her first hospitalization so far. They stated it wasn’t medically necessary, which we are fighting, but as of right now, everything helps us. She is scheduled to undergo surgery on June 18th to repair the VSD. Of course, I’m terrified, but I’m ecstatic my baby will no longer struggle. This type of heart defect can be fatal, so I am more than thankful for her cardiologist and all the doctors that have monitored her care and took me very seriously when it came to questions and concerns for her.
If you have read this far, thank you so much. Sharing my story helps me deal with it the best way I know how. Once again, anything helps as we await that scary day. We just want to be able to stay with our girl up there and afford medical expenses if need be, considering her insurance. #Makenna’sHeart
I just want to say again how grateful I am for the medicine and surgeons we have today because without them, my baby could not survive like this. Because of them, #MakennaLives
Organizers :
Alexis Valentine is organizing this fundraiser.