Aria Marie Thompson is a true warrior. Born with a congenital heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), Aria’s left heart struggles to pump blood effectively. At just seven years old, she has already faced countless medical appointments and hospital stays. Recently, her health took a drastic turn for the worse, forcing her family into the heartbreaking position of choosing between crippling debt or seeking care far from home, away from their loved ones.
According to a fundraising page created for Aria’s family, her health challenges began earlier last month when her parents noticed she was not well. They rushed her to the emergency department at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Dornbecher Children’s Hospital, where she was admitted to the ICU. Just ten days later, she was airlifted to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford in California.
Within a week, Aria’s condition deteriorated further, leading to her admission into the ICU at Stanford. Due to her weakened state and nutritional deficiencies, her parents were informed that she was no longer a candidate for a heart transplant evaluation. In a candid update on June 8th, her mother described the severity of Aria’s situation, stating, “Aria suffered from three infections, and her kidneys had ceased functioning. The medical team warned us we might only have hours left with her.” Since then, Aria has struggled to recover, relying on divine support, as doctors confirmed she is receiving maximum medical intervention but not responding as they had hoped.
As her parents navigated this crisis, they also faced the stress of lost income from work while juggling bills and caring for their other children. The costs associated with traveling back and forth between Oregon and California added to their already overwhelming financial burden.
Desiring to return to OHSU for her comfort care, Aria and her family longed to be surrounded by friends and relatives. This transition would allow for the possibility of receiving care at home, should her health improve. However, the transfer cost them nearly $65,000 out of pocket, significantly adding to their mounting medical expenses. Given that the median household income in the U.S. was $55,775 in 2015, this cost surpasses what many families earn in a year. Medical treatments are undoubtedly expensive, but the emotional toll of watching a child suffer is a burden no family should have to bear alongside financial stress.
Upon returning home, the family’s spirits lifted as they felt the support of their community. “Aria’s dad and siblings made it back safely this morning,” the family shared in a June 10th update. “They felt incredibly blessed driving into their neighborhood, where trees were adorned with pink ribbons.”
For now, the family is focused on helping Aria regain her strength for a potential discharge to her own home for comfort care. They are holding onto their faith, hoping for a miracle. In a recent update, her father shared a touching moment with Aria while listening to worship music at the hospital. “She asked me what a miracle is,” he wrote. “I explained that a miracle is when God does something that is not possible for man to do himself. She replied, ‘Like my heart?’ And I said, ‘Exactly that.’”
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In summary, families facing severe medical challenges shouldn’t have to endure the additional strain of overwhelming financial burdens. The emotional toll of caring for a sick child is immense, and the system should provide support, not exacerbate their difficulties.