Our Story …

On September 14, 2005 we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Hailey Jane.  She weighed 5 pounds 5½ ounces and was 17 inches long.  About 8 short hours later we were being told that our little girl had to be taken to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and that she required open-heart surgery.  This was so unexpected.  Our pregnancy was going fine with no warning signs that something might be wrong and this was truly news that any parent-to-be feared.  At 9 days old our little girl had open-heart surgery to repair her VSD, a hole in her heart, and coarctation of the aorta, her aorta arch was narrowed.  After living at the hospital for 3½ weeks we were able to bring our little girl home.  Although with a feeding tube and responsibilities we never imagined, the nurses at Children’s showed us the proper way to care for our daughter.  After a week on the feeding tube it was removed.  Three weeks after leaving Children’s we had to go back for a catherization to repair her aortic valve.  We had a short overnight stay. 

During our experience at St. Louis Children’s Hospital we always felt well taken care of, the nurses and staff were very good at answering our questions and preparing us for what to expect and we always felt that our little girl was in the best hands possible.  We always said that Children’s isn’t a place you want to be but if you have to be some where it is the place to be.  Our time at St. Louis Children's Hospital was very stressful but made much easier by the knowledge and friendly staff that supported us through our difficult time.  We see this tournament as a way to say thank you for saving our daughter's life.  Throughout our time in St. Louis Children's we always heard the words "I'm just doing my job" but there is no amount of money or enough thank yous in the world to express how we feel about what St. Louis Children's Hospital has done for our daughter.  We made relationships with a few of the nurses at the hospital and we continue to keep in touch with them.  We are very grateful for them as well as the surgeons and cardiologist.

Hailey is now a normal and healthy little girl.  She has had no set backs from her rough start and continues to thrive and live life to its fullest.  She brings so much joy and amazement to those that know her.  She is truly a joy and a blessing.