Elizabeth's Story

Tiny Light Elizabeth is a spunky little three year old who has a smile for everyone she meets. Her determination and feisty spirit has allowed her to already overcome so many obstacles. Elizabeth loves reading, music and dancing. She has an incredible memory and learns things quickly.  Elizabeth is also quite opinionated and independent, which often results in hilarious clothing combinations and interesting arguments, including why she can't walk her imaginary friend home when she's supposed to be going to bed. Elizabeth often tells people her name is “Princess” and her mother says, “she embodies that personality type fully!”

Following a routine ultrasound, Elizabeth's parents were told that their daughter had a complex, congenital heart defect. She was born with a hypoplastic (small and underdeveloped) right ventricle, tricuspid atresia (a missing tricuspid valve) and a ventricular septal defect (a defect in the wall dividing the left and right ventricles).  

At 3.5 months, Elizabeth underwent her first open heart surgery to have the first of a two-step repair and in March of this year, she received the second and final step. Some complications resulted in a three-month hospital stay, but now Elizabeth is home and healthy. She will not require additional surgery until her teens or early twenties, when she will receive a heart transplant.

While the journey has been difficult for Elizabeth's family, they have learned to be grateful for every moment they have with her. Her mother says: “She has helped me find joy in simple things, she brings light and happiness to all situations. Elizabeth's life is an awesome testimony of God's power and grace and being able to share that with others is a privilege.”

Story by Emily Harrison