USA:MD:Hagerstown:Washington Square United Methodist Church:Alivia Koontz

Washington Square United Methodist Church

538 Washington Avenue, Hagerstown, Maryland

Alivia Koontz

Alivia is scheduled for heart surgery on November 25 in Philadelphia. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Alivia Koontz was born March 25, 2004 with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Right Lung Hypoplasia. Very few children are born with both. Her condition requires that she have a three-stage surgery. Five days after she was born she had the first stage of her surgery. These surgeries are very complex and extremely risky. In September of 2004 Alivia had a catheterization and the second stage of her surgery.

Things seemed to be going right until June of 2006, when she had another catheterization. It showed a blockage in her heart that required an unplanned surgery. Two months later, she had an atrial septectomy to take care of the blockage. Typically, children with Alivia's condition have the third stage of the surgery by the age of three, but because she had difficulty gaining weight, the surgery was set back. Due to complications the family was told in July 2009 the next planned surgery may be too complicated. The surgeons and cardiologists are looking for answers to correct the problem with her heart.

Alivia tires easily and sometimes looks blue. A temperature of 99.9 usually requires a doctor's visit. The family takes everything day to day. They want her to live a normal lifestyle and enjoy every day that they have with her.

Contributions to help with Alivia's medical care are greatly appreciated, and may be sent to Washington Square, marked "Alivia Koontz Medical Fund."