SHINING A LIGHT
Meet Damaya Mitchell
Damaya was born on May 15, 2018. A bright, curious child whose heart condition was discovered just three days later. Doctors diagnosed her with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a hole in the wall between the heart’s upper chambers. For years, her family managed her care and monitored her condition, doing everything they could to give her a normal, happy childhood.
In November 2024, life took a difficult turn. Damaya’s father was laid off from his job as an organizer, and soon after, doctors discovered through genetic testing that she also has Holt-Oram syndrome, a rare condition affecting the heart and limbs. Just days later, on December 17, 2024, Damaya underwent open-heart surgery to repair the ASD defect and her mitral valve.
The surgery was supposed to bring relief, but instead, it brought new complications. Since then, Damaya’s recovery has been filled with uncertainty. From February 24 to March 17, 2025, she was back at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor the same place where the surgery was performed while her medical team worked tirelessly to understand why her heart wasn’t improving.
This grant will give us [stability] it will help with everyday costs so I can focus solely on Damaya’s health and heart.”
-David Bell
“The heart team is having trouble figuring out what is going on, stating our child’s condition is rare,” her parent shared. “I don’t know if Holt-Oram played a part in the worsening of her condition after surgery, but things are bad.”
With one parent unable to work and the other fully focused on Damaya’s care, the family has struggled to keep up with basic costs gas, food, bills, and travel expenses for hospital visits.
“I wholeheartedly believe in being optimistic and positive,” her dad said, “but to maintain those feelings and that outlook, you must have stability. This grant will give us that it will help with everyday costs so I can focus solely on Damaya’s health and heart.”
Even in the midst of uncertainty, the family’s focus is clear: to keep showing up for Damaya, to keep believing in her healing, and to give hope to other families facing rare and frightening diagnoses.