Please join us in celebrating Jayleen and her family—she’s thriving more than a year after her life-saving heart transplant!

Jayleen’s story began with tremendous challenges. Born in 2022 at just 29 weeks, her tiny body faced serious complications. Doctors discovered her heart was enlarged, and she was also diagnosed with hydrops fetalis, a life-threatening condition marked by fluid buildup in the body. For her parents, the joy of welcoming her was immediately paired with deep worry for her fragile health.

A few months later, Jayleen arrived at UCSF’s Pediatric Heart Center, where she met pediatric cardiologists Dr. Mark Cocalis and Dr. Othman Aljohani, along with nurse Kathleen Cinelli. The team provided expert care and heartfelt guidance, helping her parents navigate some of the hardest decisions of their lives. It quickly became clear: Jayleen would need a heart transplant to survive.

While waiting for a donor heart, doctors implanted a temporary device to support her little heart. Those months were filled with anxiety and hope, each day a delicate balance as her family prayed for the call that would change their lives.

That call came in September 2023. A donor heart was available, and under the skilled hands of her medical team, the transplant was a success. For Jayleen’s parents, the moment she received her new heart was nothing short of a miracle—a gift of life from another family in their time of grief.

Just a month later, Jayleen returned home to Sacramento, leaving behind long hospital stays and sleepless nights. Today, she is a lively 2-year-old full of energy and curiosity. She enjoys eating, coloring, and solving puzzles, bringing endless joy to her parents with every smile and giggle. Though her immune system remains fragile, she is learning to interact and make friends with the support of her therapist, exploring the world one step at a time.

For her family, each day is a precious gift. What once seemed impossible is now a reality: their daughter, once so fragile, is thriving with her new heart. Jayleen’s journey is a testament to the dedication of her doctors and nurses, the unwavering strength of her parents, and the life-changing generosity of organ donors.

Her story reminds us all of the power of hope, perseverance, and compassion. Jayleen’s smile today carries the legacy of a gift that cannot be measured—the gift of life.

Congratulations to Jayleen and her family on this incredible milestone! May her days ahead be filled with laughter, discovery, and the boundless joy of watching her grow strong and thrive. 💛