I love my daughters. They are both as close to perfect as can be – smart, well behaved, and most of all, healthy. I drop them off at school in the mornings and while I don’t know all the kids I see each day, you do tend to get to recognize them.
Which is why when I heard about this story, my heart sunk.
Darien Reese Engelberger is my 11-year-old niece. Until 7/29/11 she was a healthy, active (highly above-average) kid. I was at her basketball practice at the YMCA on 7/29/11. Two hours later I received a text message from my sister saying that they were taking Darien to the ER because her heart rate was very high. Over the next 2 days Darien would be transferred to 3 different hospitals. She has been at All Children's in St. Pete, FL since 7/31/11. Darien has been diagnosed with a life-threatening virus that is attacking her heart. Thus far she has undergone 5 open heart surgeries and numerous procedures. Her heart is currently being supported by an LVAD pump. Darien's status changes from minute-to-minute. We are all waiting and praying that Darien's heart recovers, but this will take months and there is a possibility that she may need a heart transplant. Darien's parents, Deana and Eric, have been living at the hospital since Day 1. Here they are able to provide support to Darien and each other. Darien's little sister, Avery, is also able to visit the hospital daily. There have been so many people asking about Darien and what they can do to help. Please support Darien and her family. Contributions will help ensure that Darien gets the quality medical care that she so urgently needs and also allow Deana and Eric to continue to be with Darien at the hospital.
I saw this girl practically every morning. She’d say hi to Georgia and Irelyn and was as cute and perky as they can be. To see something like this happen to someone so young is heartbreaking enough, to realize my girls could be in this situation just as easy is beyond terrifying.
Prayers and donations are most assuredly appreciated.