Dear John,

Every time Candace holds her daughter, Ciara, she sees the small scar on the right side of her neck—a tiny reminder of Ciara's strength and resilience when she was just 4 weeks old.

Ciara was born with a severely underdeveloped heart and a condition called single ventricle disease. She had to be airlifted to Children's Hospital Los Angeles immediately after her birth. A team of specialists sprang into action, working together closely to save her life.

Thanks to the support of people like you in our generous community, Children's Hospital Los Angeles has the resources to take on complex cases like Ciara's. Right now, the LA Kings are matching donations up to $100,000—please make a gift now to double your impact for sick and injured kids!

Jennifer Su, MD, a cardiologist in the Heart Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, suspected Ciara had pulmonary atresia and cardiomyopathy—either of which can cause heart failure.

Ciara was whisked to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, where a stent was placed in her heart to keep blood flowing to her lungs. But it soon became clear that her heart muscle was incredibly weak—which meant Ciara needed a new heart.

Newborn Ciara at Children's Hospital Los Angeles

The odds for Ciara and her family were terrifying: Approximately 35 to 40% of children with single-ventricle disease die within the first year of life and just 1 in 3 make it to transplant. Ciara needed a ventricular assist device (VAD) to make it through the critical waiting period for a new heart. Placing a VAD in an infant with a single ventricle was fraught with risk, but Ciara had gone into acute heart failure and would not survive without mechanical support.

In December 2021, Ciara became the first patient born with a single ventricle to receive a VAD at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. And it worked—almost immediately after the groundbreaking surgery, Ciara stabilized. Her breathing tube was removed and specialists focused on rehabilitation and nutrition over the next seven months as she waited for a transplant.

Your gift today can help provide children like Ciara with the best possible care—give now while your donation can be MATCHED up to $100,000.

Then, finally, the call came: There was a match for a transplant. Baby Ciara got her new heart. A month later—having spent nearly the entire first year of her life in the hospital—Ciara went home.

Now 18 months old, Ciara is an extraordinary little girl and is exceeding her care team's expectations. She eats solid foods, drinks out of a cup and even stands up. She is thriving today because of the groundbreaking treatment and specialized care provided by Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Providing cutting-edge care for kids like Ciara is what Children's Hospital Los Angeles specializes in—our doctors, nurses and staff work together across units and specialties to deliver the best possible care for patients dealing with complex conditions, from heart abnormalities to rare genetic diseases.

Your support makes it all possible. Please, don't miss this opportunity to double your impact for sick and injured kids. Donate while your gift can still be matched.

Remember, every dollar you give will be matched by the LA Kings up to $100,000—but only until Jun. 30!

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Sincerely,

Paul S. Viviano President and Chief Executive Officer Children's Hospital Los Angeles