Up until Tuesday, Olivia Solis had spent her entire life in the hospital.
She was born with a congenital heart defect. She's had multiple surgeries — the latest to close her chest after an extremely rare infant heart transplant. Now, she's finally going home.
Her father, Dallas Independent School District Trustee Miguel Solis, has been chronicling the family’s experience on social media since the beginning — nearly four months ago. Solis announced Tuesday that he and his wife, Jacqueline Nortman, who’s a pediatrician, have written a book about their journey.
“Our ultimate hope was that Olivia’s story would impact others’ lives,” Solis said on Twitter. “The stories families have shared with us about this being the case let us know this hope is fulfilled. But to ensure that her impact can continue, Jacqueline and I are announcing a special project.”
The family teamed up with Dallas artist Skyler Thiot to write a children’s book called, “Olivia’s New Heart.”
“We hope it will serve as a tool for families looking for a kid friendly resource to talk about transplants, which can be scary,” Solis said.
All proceeds from the book will be donated to the Heart Center at Children's Health Medical Center in Dallas, Solis says.
Baby Olivia was released from the intensive care unit earlier this month following her transplant surgery. Solis told KERA her next milestone will be making it through a full year, and then three years.
Solis said he and his wife have leaned on their faith and a supportive community during the ordeal.
“In your darkest days, you have to have hope and faith that it will work itself out,” he said.
“Where there is hope, there is faith. Where there is faith, miracles happen.” Today Olivia Rene “Faith” Solis will leave the only home she has ever known here at @ChildrensTheOne and head to the home Jacqueline and I readied for her four months ago. God is great.#LivStrong pic.twitter.com/MhZk0rLAdK
— Miguel Solis (@MiguelForDallas) June 19, 2018
