Meet Haley

After two successful life-saving heart surgeries for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) shortly after birth, Haley was able to live a normal childhood. However, health issues at age 13 required a donor heart.

Haley’s story as told by mom:  March 19, 2009 I’ll  never forget. We learned our daughter was born with a condition called HypoPlastic left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Finding out that Haley would need at least three open heart surgeries and someday a heart transplant, completely shattered my world.

Haley’s first heart surgery called the  (Norwood) it was done when she was 7 days old. The second surgery called (Glenn) was done a 6 months old. Haleys heart was to weak for the Fontana (3rd surgery).

After the Glenn surgery Haley had complications of chylothorax leaking into her chest cavity.  Age age two haley was admitted and put on the heart transplant list status 1A and we lived in the hospital for 252 days. 

After three hearts were not perfect we decided to take Haley home on status 2 which means we got to wait at home until a heart became available.

Then after several appointments and a few years doctors asked if we would take a heart if offered.  We discussed and we said Haley is doing so well now, we would wait until she can get older.   

Haley stayed home for 11 years and was never hospitalized. She was happy and joyful, always smiling.  Lived life to the fullest.

Haley at age 13 started coughing up plastic bronchitis and doctors recommended it’s time to put her back on the transplant list. It was a big decision because of our jobs, our other children because our lives would  have to be put on hold. But it was her only chance of survival so on February 16, 2023 Haley was admitted, all the tests done for a transplant candidate and was relisted.

All was done and approved by the heart association on Feb 22, 2023 and less than 24 hours Haley was offered the PERFECT heart! Doctors explained that this was the most perfect heart we could ask for. So we accepted. We experienced fear and joy-so mamy mixed emotions.

On February 24, 2023 Haley went down around 3:30pm and came back from OR at 4:00 am with her new Heart.❤️ 

Mom left us this:  

“Our daughter Haley had to have a heart transplant. One of our worries was where we were going to stay for several months. We live in Southwest VA, 6 hrs away from Charlottesville and UVA Hospital. To be told that there is a foundation that provides a free long-term stay during our devastating time, what a heartwarming gift. The Yellow Door Foundation provided us comforts of home away from home, and gave us one less stress to worry about. Yellow Door has been a blessing to our family to be able to be together during Haley’s heart transplant journey. The love and support. JoAnne makes sure you are well taken care of with food, the privacy to be able to rest, a kind word, text or call. Yellow Door Foundation is the most wonderful gift.  To know that people do care and are willing to donate to let families like us  to be together. Thank you, Yellow Door Foundation, and Sponsors for making this happen. #HaleyStrong ♥️