From the moment Raylan was born, he fought for his life. Born with cardiomyopathy, Raylan was placed on the transplant list at seven weeks old. His parents, Bonnie and Craig, could only sit and wait for answers about their baby. After agonizing challenges, numerous roadblocks, and more than a few long nights, Bonnie and Craig brought their baby home and found a new community along the way.
At 11 days old, Juliana waited for a new heart while her mother, Riki, fought breast cancer. Together as mother and daughter, they faced unexpected challenges, braved mounting treatments, endured long waits and recovery. Now, Riki shares their story in thanks to the community of support they found along the way.
One weekend, Jimmie noticed his 16-month-old daughter, Brynn, was breathing strangely. One week later, Brynn was heading into surgery to be placed on a VAD. For half a year, Jimmie and his wife, Kristyn, waited by the phone for the transplant call. The family had many long nights, learned how to navigate their lives with a VAD, and finally reached the end of a dark tunnel.
See the third part of our “A Family of Big Hearts,” featuring the youngest sibling, Gabe.
Read the second part of our “A Family of Big Hearts,” featuring Lindsey.
Read the first of our three-part series, “A Family of Big Hearts,” featuring Sierra.
After a heartbreaking experience, Liam and his family inspired providers across the country to rethink how they communicate and learn from one another. Now, with the ACTION collaborative, every patient has access to a healthcare community working together to provide the best care throughout their heart health journey.
