Meet Harlow Gattis, a remarkable little girl whose journey began on April 23, 2022. Her story starts years earlier with her parents, Brad and Kristen Gattis, who married in 2016 and dreamed of having a child together. After years of trying to conceive, they received devastating news: Kristen's high FSH levels indicated she was pre-menopausal, giving them only a 5% chance of pregnancy. Yet on Kristen's 38th birthday, they discovered they were expecting their miracle baby.

The pregnancy itself was filled with challenges. Early ultrasounds showed signs of possible Trisomy 18, leading to weeks of anxious waiting before receiving negative results. Later, concerns about Harlow's heartbeat necessitated weekly cardiac visits, though these issues were eventually cleared. At 38 weeks, Kristen's water broke. During delivery, doctors had to perform an emergency cesarean section, discovering Harlow's umbilical cord was wrapped around three parts of her body. Shortly after birth, imaging revealed that Harlow had suffered an in-utero stroke in the final month of pregnancy, leading to severe hydrocephalus that left her with only a sliver of brain tissue. Doctors gave her just 6-9 months to live, possibly up to a year with a shunt.

Rather than pursue aggressive interventions, Brad and Kristen chose to bring Harlow home under hospice care with Hands of Hope. Though sent home with feeding tubes, they never needed to use them. During her first months, Harlow experienced occasional seizures, but remarkably emerged from each episode with renewed energy and spirit. After her first birthday, she underwent an ETV (endoscopic third ventriculostomy) procedure to help drain fluid naturally—a less invasive option than a shunt. On December 13, 2023, a year and eight months after being sent home on hospice care, Harlow graduated to palliative care.

Now approaching her third birthday in April 2025, Harlow continues to defy medical expectations. She has tested out of speech therapy, being cognitively advanced for her age. Despite her physical disabilities, she attends weekly occupational and physical therapy sessions, learning to navigate in her wheelchair and making progress with her Buddy Roamer gait trainer. Her joy and resilience touch everyone she meets, and she exudes happiness in a way that transforms those around her.

Inspired by Harlow's extraordinary journey, we understand firsthand the challenges faced by families with children in pediatric hospice care. We are committed to providing these families with financial relief and home services, ensuring they can focus on building precious memories during their time together. Through Harlow's story, we've learned that medical diagnoses don't define the human spirit, and miracles can happen when you least expect them.