Ivy Irene was born on September 11, 2023, at 37 weeks. She was born with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and a congenital heart defect known as an Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD).

At just ten days old, Ivy’s care team discovered an additional heart defect:  Tetrology of Fallot (TOF) - a complex, rare heart condition caused by a combination of four heart defects.

Ivy spent the first seven weeks of her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During that time, she received:

Cardiac monitoring

Oxygen support

Phototherapy

Nutrients

G-Tube

- all to help stabilize and support her tiny body as she grew stronger.

On October 12, 2023, Ivy underwent her first surgery for placement of a gastrostomy tube (G-Tube) to support her cardiac and nutritional needs. She tolerated the procedure well, but soon after, she developed stage 1 Necrotizing Enterocolitis - a serious intestinal condition.

Thankfully, Ivy responded well to treatment, and within two weeks, she had recovered.

Finally, on October 27, 2023, after 46 days in the NICU - Ivy was discharged home - breathing on her own, happy, and surrounded by love.