Lily Needs Your Help Getting Ready For A Heart Transplant
This four year old girl is truly a "heart warrior." Her single-dad tells Marty Griffin about his angel and how people can help as they wait for a heart transplant.
To see the way Cliff Ayers looks at his baby girl will melt your heart. To hear their struggle will make it ache and make you want to do something. Lily just reached a milestone for her young life. Monday was her fourth birthday, something they thought they might never see.
Lily had life-saving surgery when she was 2 days old.
Lily was born with a birth defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome that keeps part of her heart from developing. Living just outside of Washington, PA in Canton Township, she's currently on the waiting list for a heart transplant. I sat down with this amazing little angel and her father to find out what challenges are ahead and what we can all do to help:

Lily also has a rare neurological disorder known as Moebius Syndrome . Until recently her gums were fused to her cheeks. She's fed through a feeding tube. Lily also cannot blink or show facial expressions, but she does have quite the infectious laugh. So far she isn't saying much other than "Dada," but she does have plenty to say through sign language.
Lily reading one of her many favorite books after putting on her glasses.
While they don't know when Lily's heart could come, they do know what will happen afterwards. The surgery will require an extended hospital stay and they will have to remain nearby for several months. That is why Cliff setup a GoFundMe page. There are also other fundraisers ahead you can find in Lily's Facebook group which is linked below.
Ways to Help and More Information:
- GoFundMe: Lily's Heart Transplant
- Facebook Group: Lily Heart Warroir (spelling of the group is correct)
- CDC: What is Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome?
- NIH: Moebius Syndrome
Did you happen to notice all of the professional wrestling championship belts on the walls? Dad's been a fan for quite some time and his little girl has the same passion. They watch wrestling together, play with WWE action figures, and she even has a few belts of her own. Of course if you ask her, she says they're all hers! Sorry dad!