# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DFqQHk6PRp1
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72589020-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/e9bca9e36f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-02-04T18:00:39.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

During a routine anatomy scan at 21 weeks pregnant, Mariela Villalobos received news no parent wants to hear: “Your baby has a congenital heart condition, and we need to refer you to a pediatric cardiologist immediately.”

Mariela was shocked. Her pregnancy felt normal — no morning sickness, no complications — and even after baby Diego was born, she still found herself in disbelief.

“I kept asking if they were sure my baby had a heart condition because everything seemed just fine,” Mariela said. “My baby did not show any signs of the medical condition we were facing.”

Diego was transferred to the pediatric cardiology intensive care unit and underwent his first open-heart surgery. It marked the beginning of a long and emotional journey.

Diego has required three open-heart surgeries in total — one at 4 days old, at 4 months old, and again at 2 years old. During each surgery and throughout his recovery, blood transfusions played a critical role.

“There were days he needed blood to keep fighting,” Mariela said. “I never imagined how important it would be to his recovery.”

Today, Diego is thriving. Now 5 years old, he’s living life to the fullest — swimming, wrestling and practicing karate. In the fall, he’ll start preschool, an incredible milestone for a little boy who has fought so hard. ❤️

#DonateBlood #GiveBlood #DonateBloodSaveLives #GiveBloodSaveLives #HeartWarrior #HeartSurgery #CHDWarrior #CHDAwareness #CongenitalHeartDefect

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## Tags

congenitalheartdefect, donateblood, heartsurgery, chdawareness, heartwarrior, donatebloodsavelives, chdwarrior, givebloodsavelives, giveblood

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