Ari found out she was pregnant with twins, Chase and Chance, at just 19 years old. Going into labour unexpectedly at 33 weeks, she was transferred to a hospital out of her home state of Virginia to be better suited for what she would face. Chance, diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome at 14 weeks gestation, would end up staying in the cardiac ICU at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital for 384 days and an additional 30 days at another hospital used to transition him home. Just 10 days before his first Christmas, he underwent surgery to receive a tracheotomy that was the greatest gift because home was a light at the end of the tunnel. 

During his 1 year+ stay, he endured two open-heart surgeries, 3 cardiac caths, ECMO, tons of tests, scans, X-rays, infusions, being intubated over 10 times, and eventually a tracheostomy. While Ari is originally from Virginia, she had to uproot and live in a new city all while facing postpartum adjusting to being a first-time mum having a newborn at home and being by her baby’s side while he fought for his life. It was hard but worth it and all the days that she felt like she wanted to give up. She would remember it was just a day, another 24 hours to meet at the end of this one. Chance is now home and loving on his twin brother and all the snuggles from family!