Support Team Lyla

On October 19th, our lives were forever changed when our 3 month old daughter, Lyla, went into cardiac arrest. Thankfully, the quick response and life-saving work of the Woburn Firefighters and EMS kept Lyla alive.  Lyla was then rushed to Winchester Hospital, where she received immediate, critical care. After a few hours of tireless efforts, she was transferred to Boston Children's Hospital, where Lyla was placed on ECMO life support. Doctors discovered she has a coarctation of the aorta and severe mitral valve regurgitation, which is what caused her initial cardiac event. To add to her challenges, Lyla suffered a stroke on the right side of her brain.

For a month, Boston Children's was our home. Three of those weeks were spent in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, where the dedicated staff worked to stabilize her and improve her health.  Another week followed on the cardiac floor, as Lyla began her journey to recovery.  They saved her life, and through it all, Lyla has shown an incredible amount of strength and resilience.  Now, at 7 months old, Lyla loves smiling, saying da-da-da-da, sweet potatoes, anything that crinkles, and her 4 legged brother Charlie!

There are no words to express the gratitude we feel for the Woburn Firefighters, the team at Winchester Hospital, and the doctors, nurses, and entire team at Boston Children's.  Beyond Lyla's care, the nurses at Boston Children's provided unwavering support to Tim & I. They treated us with compassion, offered some much-needed humor, and guided us through the toughest times and most difficult conversations we've ever faced. Their kindness and empathy played a huge role in keeping us going.

We know Lyla's journey is far from over. She still has a multitude of doctor's appointments, requires numerous medications, and participates in ongoing therapy and support programs.  Lyla will ultimately need open heart surgery, and we are committed to supporting her every step of the way. But we are also committed to supporting the hospital that gave her this chance.

That's why I'm participating in the Eversource Walk for Boston Children's Hospital. I want to ensure that other families facing similar challenges receive the same life-saving care that Lyla did.

Please join me in supporting this incredible hospital. Your donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference in the lives of babies like Lyla!