Our sweet 5-month-old Gianna, GJ as we lovingly call her, is a fighter. On Sat, Sep 19, the same day her parents, Gil and Jovin, were moving into their new apartment, GJ was rushed to the ER. She was transferred to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, where she was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, cause unknown. This means her heart is enlarged and too weak to pump blood the way it should. 6 days after that ER visit, she was placed on an LVAD, a device that helps her heart pump. It supports her heart while she patiently waits for a heart transplant, her 'hero heart'. She is under close watch of her wonderful care team at Stanford. This is going to be a long journey. Gil and Jovin spend most of their days and nights at GJ's bedside. This page is to support them, her parents, and we're hoping our village can keep showing up for them while they focus on being there for GJ. A note on fundraising: This page is for Gil and Jovin. A separate fundraiser specifically for GJ's care will be set up through COTA, and we'll share the details here once it's ready. If you're thinking of visiting, please see the note below first. Thank you for being her village. It means more than we can say.
If you'd like to visit GJ at LPCH, please check with Gil and/or Jovin first. They always appreciate the love, and we ask that there be no surprise visits, since we want to be mindful of their comfort and energy. Some days are heavier than others. If you're sick or not feeling well, please hold off on coming in person. Thank you for understanding!