Noelle, Age 4

When she was born on January 11th four years ago, Noelle was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. Due to thiscondition, she had multiple heart defects that have required multiple surgeries to enable her heart to function at its best with as little stress as possible. To date, Noelle has had two of the three heart surgeries that she will need.

Noelle’s father, Andy, is the Japanese professor here at Hope College and her mother, Emma, is a ’95 graduate. She also has an older sister, Leia, whom she loves to play with. She especially likes listening to and "singing" along with music. Noelle's family enjoys going on picnics, reading, singing, and spending time together at home. Noelle’s parents are extremely grateful to her cardiologist, Dr. Lacina, and her surgeon, Dr. Neirotti, and said, "The doctors, nurses, and staff at DeVos Children’s Hospital have been so caring, compassionate, and understanding not only of Noelle’s needs, but [of those of] our family as well. We’re so thankful that DeVos Children’s Hospital is so close by and that they were able to treat Noelle."