Ingrid

Meet Ingrid

Ingrid was born without issue this past April 2023. Two days after going home, her parents (Xiomara & Salvador) rushed her back to the local emergency room where she was immediately transferred to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, over 180 miles from home. She remained in the hospital for 33 days where she was diagnosed with Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1(PHA 1). PHA1 is a condition characterized by problems regulating the amount of sodium in the body. It is also a life-threatening disease that causes severe hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium) and cardiac arrest if not treated appropriately or if diagnosis is missed.

We received Ingrid’s referral in June while she was hospitalized at Cottage Children’s Medical Center. Ingrid’s battle with PHA 1 and managing her high potassium levels have been challenging for the family. Ingrid has been in hospitals and in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for the majority of her life, over 150 days, and only home for 20 days. Her fragile condition has led to many intubations and near loss of life.

The stress on Ingrid’s parents has been tremendous. The family has a 3-year-old daughter and has been doing everything to keep Ingrid alive and keep their family together. Paid family leave for Xiomara ended early on and she has not been able to return to work as she has spent every day and night by Ingrid’s side. Ingrid’s dad has continued to work while also caring for their 3-year old while Xiomara remained at Cottage Hospital and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) during Ingrid’s hospitalizations. Salvador travels every weekend to be with his wife and sick child. Sadly, they made the difficult decision to have their 3-year old stay with her aunt in Los Angeles as they navigated Ingrid’s health while dad continues to work to stay ahead of the bills.

Ingrid remains at CHLA where doctors are hoping to get her potassium levels under control and send her home in a stable condition as she will be battling this life-long illness.

Hearts Aligned has been working with this family to provide much needed gas cards along with auto loan payments for dad to make the trip down south, grocery cards for both mom and dad as they are living separately and we have been there to listen to the frustration, worry and sadness that has plagued this family for the past 6 months.

Ingrid is one of the many reasons we exist, please help Ingrid and other families that are also struggling with having a critically ill child by making a donation today.

Thank you for supporting Hearts Aligned to continue in our mission to serve local families like Ingrid’s navigating the unimaginable.

 Thank you for your support!

 

 

Meet The Families

Edgar

Meet Edgar Edgar was referred to Hearts Aligned from Marian Regional Medical Center. He was born without concern and went home. Four days later, he was in the NICU - his body was unable to control his sodium and potassium levels, a very serious and life-threatening...

Alan

In Memory of Alan We are sad to report that Alan has lost his fight against many ailments that were plaguing his small body. Alan had just turned a year old and spent many months in the hospital after birth. He was in Marian Medical Center, Stanford, and Cottage...

LeAndro

Meet LeAndro LeAndro was born with a kidney condition (Severe bilateral hydronephrosis) in which both kidneys are unable to drain to the bladder. If left untreated permanent damage to the kidneys can occur. In the days after his birth, an ultrasound revealed a partial...

Lukas

Meet Lukas Lukas and Lyam were twin boys born at 22 weeks gestation, 11 inches long and weighing just 15 ounces. Mom and dad were first time parents.  Sadly, Lyam passed away 3 weeks after his birth which was heartbreaking for the family. Lukas’s lungs were...

Cristian

  Meet Cristian Cristian is just 18 months old and has been plagued with numerous ailments including mitochondrial disease, enlarged liver, kidney failure, and pulmonary hypertension. Cristian has been in and out of the hospital since birth and was recently...

Sofia

Meet Sofia Sofia seemed to be a healthy baby when she was born in Santa Maria at Marian Hospital but then began having issues. She had been vomiting, not passing stools and her stomach was distended. At just 2 days old, she was transferred to Cottage Children's...

Catalina

Meet Catalina Catalina was born at 25 weeks’ gestation and weighed just 1 pound 5 ounces.  Catalina was born at 25 weeks’ gestation, weighing just 1 pound 5 ounces. Due to her premature birth, Catalina was born with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and respiratory...

Carlos

Meet Carlos Before Carlos was born, doctors told his mother that he would not survive his birth. A few days after his birth, Carlos was diagnosed with intestinal blockage. He had numerous surgeries, but his issues persisted. After thorough testing, he was also...

Kimberly

Meet Kimberly Kimberly was a premature baby born at 27 weeks gestation and weighed 1 lb, 13 oz.  Her lungs were underdeveloped, and she was on oxygen for 4 months at Cottage Hospital.  She had a congenital heart defect - Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) - a hole in her...

Stella

Meet Stella Kristel was just 11 weeks pregnant when she was told her baby would be born with gastroschisis.  Gastroschisis is a birth defect where a hole in the abdominal (belly) wall beside the belly button allows the baby's intestines to extend outside of the baby's...