Hilary
Hilary’s short life has not been easy. One of four children born into a troubled family environment, Hilary lives with her grandmother. Her life became even more complex when her survival was threatened by tricuspid valve disease, specifically mitral regurgitation, or in simpler terms, a leaky mitral valve. If this condition were to go untreated, blood would flow backwards into the upper chamber of Hilary’s heart.
Extended family members rallied upon hearing the diagnosis and organized a block party to raise small funds that they contributed to Hilary’s surgery to complement a generous gift from Isaac Goff and his employees. Surgeons at the the Children’s Hospital in Santa Cruz conducted a mitral valve replacement. This surgery has opened a new door to life for Hilary.