Fundraiser · Open heart surgery · October
Fighting for Damian
Two years old. Three heart conditions. One October surgery — and a little boy who never stops.
Two years old. Three heart conditions. One October surgery — and a little boy who never stops.
A family cancelled, and the hospital's family housing program pulled her off the waiting list. Instead of paying full price for lodging, she'll pay $90 a night to stay there through Damian's surgery and the recovery after it.
That changes where this money goes. Housing costs far less now — so what you've given moves to where the need went: Damian's medical expenses, and the tests his family has to pay for out of pocket.
Damian is two years old. His first diagnosis was pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum, and his first surgery corrected it beautifully. It hasn't given him a single problem since.
But two other conditions came with it. Those are the ones we're still fighting — and they're attacking from opposite sides.
At his last cath, we learned Damian has lost one pulmonary vein on his left side, and it can't be saved. The other two are being held open with stents.
The muscle of his right ventricle has thickened severely. His heart struggles to pump, and struggles to relax in between beats.
The hardest part is the balance. Every procedure that helps one side has to be weighed against what it does to the other. His team is working to buy him time and options until he can be listed for transplant.
Through all of it, Damian is active. He is resilient. He does not stop. That's why his doctors keep fighting for him — and why we do too.
In October, Damian and his mom travel out for open heart surgery. His team is trying a different approach this time — one that hasn't been attempted yet.
They'll be away from home for the surgery and the recovery that follows.
Damian and his mom stay at the hospital's family housing at $90 a night. They expect to be there three to four weeks — roughly $1,900 to $2,500 in lodging alone, before the travel to get them there.
The rest goes to Damian's medical expenses, including the tests his family has to pay for out of pocket and any additional medication he needs. Those costs aren't fully known yet, which is part of why the family is trying to get ahead of them now.
Every dollar goes directly to Damian's family. There's no organization in the middle and no fees taken out.
Come meet the family, stay a while, and enter the drawing. If you can't make it in person, the 6:30 drawing will be streamed and recorded.
These local businesses donated to the drawing or gave directly to the fundraiser. If you're nearby, they'd be worth your business.
Own a business and want to be on this list? Call or text Areli at (770) 773-0211.
If you can't give, share this page.
If you can't share it, pray for him.
All of it matters.
Know someone who could help — lodging near the hospital, travel, or something to put up for the drawing?
Call or text Areli · (770) 773-0211