So Close to My Heart

Karen Izzi
Jul 17
5 min read

by Aunt Kiki Izzi

To share sincerest gratitude for the exceptional medical care and their extraordinary staff, my brother and sister-in-law have created JFest in 2025. Phyllis and I are on the JFest Crew to raise funds for the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Nemours Children's Hospital. Each of your personal donations and corporate sponsors are appreciated. With our deepest gratitude we feel forever blessed. Our gifts to Nemours help support their genuine and sincere drive to provide lifesaving care to children with medical needs. They make new discoveries, find new cures to comfort children and their families. Nemours not only offers impeccable care for children but also an immense a support system for their families. The staff treats every child like their own. We felt this at every step of the way. Please realize that no matter how small or large your contribution to Maya’s Angels may be, it is a vital part of them being recognized as one of the largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to children's health.

This is my small story around the story.

In 2013 I was becoming an aunt again! And guess what, there are three! Yes, triplets. I got busy making little quilts, buying gifts, and dreamed of shopping, picking out jewelry, polishing our nails, boy chats, etc. The girls made their grand entrance 8 weeks premature. Three happy baby girls and two very proud, new parents. I was so thrilled for my youngest brother to become “a best Dad ever!” Three of everything! Babies A, B and C. The adventures begin. Maybe one of the most exciting things to ever happen to me.

Shortly after the girls were born, doctors noticed that something “wasn't right” with Maya’s digestion. Maya had been diagnosed with NEC. Necrotizing Enterocolitis. A lack of proper circulation and inflammation causes gastrointestinal intestinal infection. It can damage cells and causes painful inflammation of the colon and intestines. This condition is that of only 5% of newborn preemies. We held fast to the idea that since she is named after our Grandmother, Rose, that she would be strong and survive anything, just as Mommom did. The physicians at Lankenau Hospital quickly realized she needed specialized medical attention; they lifted Maya to Nemours Children's Hospital. Physicians and specialists promptly evaluated and treated Maya. She had several close calls. At just a couple of days old, Maya underwent three surgeries to treat NEC. They removed the diseased intestine and bowel. Because of such intensive care, surgeons at Nemours were able to successfully reattach her intestines. I spent hours writing in my journal, gardening, making art, and going for walks in the woods. Trying to reach spirit in my own way.

“We can’t lose her,” I would chant to myself. She is a miracle baby! Let me tell you, every single time the phone rang, we froze, paused, took a deep breath, held hands, then answered. We swallowed our breath, hard, and it was like that for months.

Maya fit in the palms of our hands at four pounds. There were dozens of colorful wires, tubes going in and out of her body, a bag, and a lot of staff surrounding her special bassinette. There were mechanical chirps, beeps, and alarms. She was never left alone. We ached for her recovery.

We watched Michael and Jenny skip meals, miss many nights of sleep, weep, smile, grab a bottle of water here and there, eat on the run, weep, and smile some more. The other two girls, Jenna and Eva were superstars, also requiring around the clock care. All along, I suspected that they knew Maya wasn’t there with them.

All we could do was pray. Even those who don’t pray, prayed. For me, the most difficult part came from feeling such helplessness. This was going to be God's work. We had prayer chains, meal chains, and took turns caring for the new parents and their beautiful babies. Jenny, Maya, and Eva.

Michael and Jenny were traveling, a few times a day, making trips to visit both hospitals, that were more than an hour apart. There are no words to describe the long-lasting lump in my throat. The staff at Nemours stepped up and had Jenna and Eva brought to Nemours to be with Maya. She smiled. They smiled as they were reunited. Pictures cannot describe these emotions. Maya improved almost immediately. After six months in the NICU Maya came home. That was the beginning of a strenuous journey. The responsibility of around the clock care for three newborns. It was a team effort. Our families got tight. We all had already fallen madly in love with these girls!

Like a tag team, we rocked them, carried them, fed them, changed them, massaged them, dressed and bathed them. We did whatever we could for them. Michael and Jenny knew how much we joy we felt, how we suffered and celebrated each of the moments right along with them. It consumed them. No one slept much.

So fragile. Maya permanently lost her ability to hear and had temporarily damaged vocal cords. I mean it when I tell you it was completely heartbreaking to see her cry, without hearing any sound, it called for more prayer. My Mom would say, “God is going to be sick of hearing from me.” We didn’t have a way of knowing whether she had pain or was just thirsty or hungry.

The joyous day finally came when Maya was out of significant danger and could go home with her family. She was going to make a full recovery! Not to say that there haven’t been appointments with specialists along the way, religious statues facing a certain way in the window, and plenty of follow ups, but Maya is thriving! Two families came together. It brings me to tears to recall these moments. Even today.

Maya has bilateral cochlear implants, but it never stops her. She is an avid signer and teaches sign language to whoever wants to learn. Each morning, she signs the morning announcements, on closed circuit tv, at school. Recently she and the school choir performed a song in sign language. Proud Aunt moment, for sure! Yes, I am crying right now.

As my girls turn thirteen in a few months, we admire the way they shine. Maya loves to swim, draw stories, play with her friends, take care of her two new puppies, and facetimes with her Aunties in Arizona. (She calls my phone, says “hi Kiki”, then asks, “where is Phyllis.”) Maya has been connected to Phyllis since day one. She has her own You Tube channel now where she publishes her short video stories and calls to tell us when there is a new one uploaded. We are currently learning how to use different filters while we facetime. We love to see her eyes light up, with pride, and of course, when she laughs at us.

I love my nieces. Our lives would be so different without their love, light and laughter! Each of the girls are involved in different sports. They love each other, protect each other. They are empathetic, intelligent, creative, and so caring in their hearts. I feel so lucky to have their love.

Together is always better! JFest requires a lot of preparation, a lot of feet on the ground, and hands in the air. Our hearts are open wide to help other families survive and thrive. JFest is operating as a nonprofit so 100% of the funds will go directly to Nemours Children's Hospital. Every single dollar pushes us toward the goal of raising $100,000. We are currently around $25,000.

We would love to see Nemours name a wing of the hospital, “Maya’s Angels,” which is what they have proposed. Please use the link to share the love. Thank you, from my heart.