06/22/2026
At 1 year old, Faith is a calm, joyful presence — always smiling and taking in the world around her, surrounded by the constant love of her three older sisters. It’s a quiet happiness that feels hard-won when you understand where her story began.
During pregnancy, her mom, Emily, learned Faith would be born with pulmonary atresia, a rare heart defect that blocks blood flow through the right side of the heart. Faith’s care began immediately at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, where she underwent her first procedure within 24 hours and spent weeks in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CICU) undergoing multiple cardiac catheterizations.
Those early days were filled with uncertainty — watching her daughter connected to wires and machines, waiting for signs that things would turn in the right direction. And then, slowly, with the dedication of Faith’s care team and the love of her family, they did.
Today, Faith is growing and developing right where she needs to be. She was supported by Levine Children’s and The HEARTest Yard’s CHAMP program, which helps closely monitor babies with complex heart conditions as they transition home. Through regular check-ins, in-home nursing support and direct access to a dedicated care team, CHAMP has given Emily both guidance and reassurance throughout their journey.
Along the way, another layer of trust took shape.
Emily had been living with her own heart condition — a bicuspid aortic valve — well before Faith was born. But as she watched Dr. Andrew Dailey Schwartz care for her daughter with such intention and connection, something changed. In the middle of Faith’s journey, Emily made a decision of her own — to place her care in the same hands.
It reflected a deeper trust, shaped by the experience of watching her daughter cared for when it mattered most.
Months ago, Emily found herself wondering about the future — if Faith would be able to experience simple things like a trip to the beach. Recently, she did, dipping her toes in the sand on a family trip that once felt far out of reach.
There is still more ahead, but today, Faith is exactly who her family hoped she would be — strong, joyful and full of life ❤️
Learn more about Faith’s journey: https://bit.ly/4oLxJNO
Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation