Isla was born with Digeorge Syndrome, a chromosomal condition that caused her congenital heart defects, a complex mashup of multiple heart defects won her the diagnosis of Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome/TOF variant.

She had her first open-heart surgery at 15 days old but struggled and ultimately needed to be transferred by airplane to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX. There, they determined that Isla was very sick, she was septic, had pulmonary hypertension, and also needed another open-heart surgery. She spent months in the hospital growing and getting stronger until it was time for her second open-heart surgery.

At 5 months old, Isla had her surgery and began thriving. She spent 11 months of her first year as an inpatient, it was a long road to recovery but Isla continues to prove her strength and determination every day. She started preschool recently and loves to be outside. She still cuddles with her CHD bear that she got while in the hospital.