About Us

When you are expecting a baby everyone asks us, “Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?” The standard response is, “It doesn’t matter as long as he or she is healthy!” But what happens when the baby you are carrying isn’t going to be born healthy? That’s where this story begins.

May 21st, 2018, I went in for my 20 week ultrasound. My husband Ryan and I already had two wonderful little girls and were expecting our third, when we found out the news that would forever change our story.

“There’s something wrong with your baby’s heart.”

“You need to see a high risk doctor tomorrow.”

“We need set up a prenatal echocardiogram.”

“Your baby has Down syndrome.”

“AV Canal Defect.”

“She will go into heart failure.”

“Open heart surgery within the first six months of life.”

That was a lot of information to get within four days of the ultrasound, but the best thing we heard from our cardiologist was, “Your baby’s heart can and will be fixed.”

Hi, I’m Josie. I’m a heart mom, and I am glad you’re here. If you are looking for support for your family or for a family you know, check out our support bracelets here.

 

Check out a recap of Maya’s first year.

Maya’s First Year from Ryan vanderkin on Vimeo.