Ariya JamesTiny but unstoppable

Ariya is currently 16 months old and was born with HLHS (Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome) and severe AVS. Her life has been a series of mountains to climb, but she has faced every challenge with determination and courage.

Her journey began at just six days old with the Norwood procedure. What followed was a whirlwind of hurdles, including a Sano stent, an emergency BTT shunt after developing hypoxemia, and the terrifying complication of a blood clot. For weeks, her chest remained open as she fought through each setback.

After six months in the hospital, Ariya finally returned home. In May, she successfully underwent her Glenn procedure. Her recovery included three months on oxygen and a follow-up heart catheterization, and she has now been home for six months, thriving. This summer, she will have a catheterization to help plan her next surgery, the Fontan procedure.

From weaning off heavy medications to her current goal of transitioning from a G-tube to eating by mouth, Ariya never stops pushing forward. She is a true fighter, proving every day that heart warriors are unstoppable.

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