Hi everyone,

This is a difficult story for me to share because I’m naturally a very private person. Over the past several months, though, I’ve learned how important it is to lean on the people who care. I also hope that by sharing Hazel’s story, I can bring awareness to congenital heart defects—something I knew very little about before this journey began.

At Hazel’s 20-week anatomy ultrasound, we were referred to Maternal-Fetal Medicine for a more detailed scan and then to a pediatric cardiology team. During a fetal echocardiogram, we learned that our baby girl had Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), a congenital heart defect that includes a moderate-to-large ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole between the heart’s lower chambers, along with pulmonary stenosis, a narrowing of the pathway that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. We were told that she would need open-heart surgery when she was just a few months old.

Receiving that diagnosis brought a wave of emotions—fear, sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, and countless questions about the future. It was overwhelming, and it changed the way I looked at the rest of the pregnancy.

On June 24, 2026, we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Hazel, into the world.

From the very beginning, Hazel has shown us what true strength and resilience look like. Her smile, determination, and sweet spirit have brought so much joy into our lives, and I am completely in love with her.

Since coming home, our days have been filled with cardiology appointments, imaging, testing, and preparing for the day she will undergo open-heart surgery on September 14, 2026. As her father, it is heartbreaking to think about placing my tiny baby into the hands of a surgical team. While this is something I never imagined facing, I am hopeful that this surgery will give Hazel the opportunity to live a long, healthy, and active life.

Many families unexpectedly find themselves navigating this same path, and I hope Hazel’s story helps shine a light on these incredible heart warriors and the strength they show every day.

As we prepare for surgery and the recovery that follows, we know there will be many unexpected expenses, including medical costs, travel, meals, lodging, parking, and time away from work while still managing the bills at home. If you feel led to support our family financially, any contribution—no matter the size—will help ease some of the burden so we can focus entirely on Hazel’s recovery.

If you are unable to give financially, your prayers, encouragement, and sharing Hazel’s story mean just as much to us. Thank you for surrounding our sweet girl with so much love. Knowing that Hazel has such an incredible village behind her gives me strength and hope every day.

With love and gratitude, Hazel’s Dad, Blake