Despite undergoing three open-heart surgeries, kindergartener Hailey Garcia from Horizon Heights Elementary School is making the most of every opportunity to play, learn, and have fun while also advocating for heart health.
In August, Hailey was selected as one of 15 children and adolescents nationwide, and the only one from Texas, to be an American Heart Association's national Youth Heart Ambassador. Wearing a red cape with “Heart Hero” emblazoned on the back, Hailey aims to inspire her fellow Hornets to keep their hearts healthy and strong through the organization’s in-school programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™.
“We were really happy, and we were so proud of her,” Gaby Mendoza, Hailey’s mom, said about the honor. “She's been through a lot. She deserves to be recognized for this.”
In recognition of this national distinction, Hailey was selected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees regular meeting in September.
Hailey was born with a severe congenital heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. This rare condition occurs when the pulmonary valve doesn't form properly and is sealed, preventing enough oxygen-poor blood from flowing to the lungs. Just hours after her birth, she underwent her first open-heart surgery to repair a pulmonary artery, demonstrating incredible resilience even as a newborn.
At two years old, she had a second open-heart surgery to replace a heart valve. In June, she had her third surgery and spent the summer recovering and rebuilding her strength to start kindergarten in August.
“She’s a superstar every step of the way,” said Horizon Heights Principal Jenifer Hansen. “She is just that voice that if I can do it, everybody can do it.”
Throughout the summer, school administrators remained in close contact with Hailey’s family, providing support before the surgery and during the recovery process.
At school, Hailey is under the close watch of the school nurse, her teachers, staff and administrators who are all in to address Hailey’s physical and emotional needs following her surgery. The school follows instructions provided by Hailey’s doctor to her family, which included specific limits on activities such as PE and recess.
“They have been really, really helpful,” Mendoza said. “When she had surgery this summer, the principal and the teachers were sending us messages every week to see how she was doing, and they were making sure we were doing good.”
Hailey was a Pre-K student at Horizon Heights when her physical education teacher Rosa Duran encouraged Hailey’s mom to submit a video of Hailey to the American Heart Association's national Youth Heart Ambassador program. In the video, Hailey shared her story about the impact of heart disease on her young life.
Duran credits Hailey’s positive attitude and energy to the support of her family, including Hailey’s big sister Sophia, a second grader at Horizon Heights, who helped Hailey create the winning video.
“She's just big smiles and energy. I don't know anybody as positive as Ms. Hailey,” Duran said. “Her family, they're very supportive. I think all of that plays into how awesome she is. She loves being here, and we just love having her.”
No matter the obstacles she has faced, Hailey enjoys singing and dancing in class and making new friends. Just like her peers, she participates in extracurricular activities such as math night and literacy night. She has rarely been absent, only missing school for doctor’s appointments.
“I like to have fun, play and learn,” Hailey said. She plans to become a nurse and help others as she has been helped.
As her health improves, Hailey will spend the year advocating for youth heart health on behalf of the American Heart Association. The position will allow her to be a relentless force for healthier lives for all and be a voice to encourage, advocate and emphasize the need to raise critical funding in the local community.
Currently, 22 SISD schools participate in the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge. Students participate in different activities to learn about heart disease and stroke while also adopting heart-healthy lifestyle habits.
In Pre-K, Hailey learned how to perform hands-on CPR. She also raised money for the association and won a T-shirt. As a top fundraiser, Hailey won the chance to slime her PE coach, but she refused to do it out of the kindness of her heart.
Hailey has made great progress since the start of the school year in August, Hansen said. She has not only set an example for her classmates but also for the adults around her, demonstrating the qualities of a great Youth Heart Ambassador.
“She's a leader, she's an advocate, she's brave and she's courageous,” Hansen said.