"With much anxiety and anticipation for the arrival of my daughter, Zoe, who would be born with half a heart, our family received many gifts and well-wishes.
We relocated at 36 weeks gestation from Arizona to Philadelphia to receive the best care for our unborn child.
With limited packing space, our friends and family shipped us a few care packages. One of the items given was a pink Zaky hand. I slept with the Zaky one week prior to Zoe’s arrival.
After her first open heart surgery at 15 hours old, I brought Zoe the Zaky to offer both familiarity and comfort.
Being unable to hold your newborn for over a week, and finding ways to comfort them, can be challenging.
The Zaky HUG snuggled Zoe when I couldn’t be physically present. After a one-month hospitalization, our family returned home to Arizona on a commercial flight. The Zaky not only comforted Zoe within the hospital, but outside in unfamiliar surroundings.
Thank you, Yamile, for creating the Zaky HUG. I know many babies born with congenital heart defects are finding similar comfort with the Zaky, and will for years to come."
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Warriors