Our Story: Supporting Baby Xaleia’s Journey with CHD Hello, My name is Meagen, and I’m a single mother doing my best to support my 17-year-old daughter and our family as we face one of the hardest times of our lives. In April 2025, my daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Xaleia, who was born with a rare and life-threatening congenital heart defect called tricuspid atresia — along with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and atrial septal defect (ASD). What is Tricuspid Atresia? Tricuspid atresia is a condition where the tricuspid valve in the heart fails to develop properly, blocking blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle. This condition requires multiple surgeries, close monitoring, and lifelong care. Without intervention, babies with this condition do not survive. Starting around 30 weeks into the pregnancy, we had to begin traveling from our home to UCLA multiple times a week for stress tests, pediatric cardiology, and OB/GYN appointments. I didn’t have a reliable car and often had to borrow vehicles just to make those critical appointments. Eventually, I had no choice but to get a car, even though it meant taking on a financial burden. Since Xaleia’s birth on April 25, 2025, she has already spent days in the hospital, and we now make weekly trips to UCLA for echocardiograms. Her first open-heart surgery (called the Glenn procedure) is currently scheduled for August — but may need to happen sooner, depending on how her heart develops. Once the natural holes in her heart close, she will no longer have enough blood flow to her lungs, which makes timely surgery essential. I have done everything I can to keep up, but as a single mom of four children, this situation has become overwhelming. I’ve missed work, lost wages, and taken on significant expenses for gas, food, parking, and hotel stays. On top of that, we are currently living in a home that is not safe for a medically fragile baby — it has mold, cracked doors, and all the bedrooms are only accessible by stairs. Because Xaleia is likely to also face lung complications, we urgently need a healthier, more accessible place to live. I don’t often ask for help, but I am doing so now — for my children, and especially for baby Xaleia. Any support you can offer, whether financial or through resources, is deeply appreciated. Every little bit helps us stay on this difficult path with hope. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read our story. With gratitude, Meagen Coats (mother and grandmother to Xaleia)