My name is Nazarena Saez, and this is my history, I was born on December 19 2001 in Knoxville TN, with a rare heart condition called Hypoplastic left heart syndrome also known as ( HLHS ). My mom found out about my condition at 5 weeks of her pregnancy. Many doctors told her that it was best to abort. After I was born I was transferred to a hospital in Atlanta, where on December 26 2001 I had my first open heart surgery called Norwood. On January 6, 2002, I had another surgery to fix my aorta and an artery. Then on February 4, 2002, I had stomach surgery to insert a G tube so that I was able to eat. On February 13 I was able to leave the hospital for the first time since I was born. At 6 months old on June 24 2002 I had my second open heart surgery called Glen. At the age of three, I had aspiration which is when a muscle from the esophagus becomes paralyzed, for me it was paralyzed for six months due to a long period of being intubated. During these six months, I was not able to drink or eat by month, all of my food and drink had to be given through a G tube. Due to the same reason that I was intubated for so long one of my vocal cords became peralized. Also at the age of one, I had eye surgery. Then on July 18, 2005, I had my third open heart surgery called Fontan.
On December 23, 2005, I had a procedure done to help my lungs receive more oxygen. In 2009 I suffered a major stroke due to malpractice which left me paralyzed and lost all my memory, it took me three years to fully recover. Two months after the stroke they had to put me in a port a cat because I needed to receive very strong medicines. After the procedure I woke up as if nothing had happened to me, I started talking, I recognized my parents, and gradually began to regain my strength in the body—affected side. The doctors never had an explanation for what happened. Then in 2013 I had my gallbladder removed, fixed a hernia, and closed my G tube whole all in one surgery. On March 12, 2023, I had a gallbladder stone removed that was left behind from when they removed my gallbladder that was full of rocks. In all, I had a total of nine Catheterization 3 before each open heart surgery. At the age of thirteen, I had a second eye surgery. I am not afraid to tell my story or show off all of my scars to the world because I want to inspire young girls that beauty does not come from the outside but from the inside. My wish is to be able to reach people, especially young people, that they are happy, and that they learn to love themselves as they are. Life is too beautiful to have problems when there aren't any. For me, life is very important and I live every day as if it were the last, without worrying about things that have a solution, live happily, giving thanks for everything you have, for one more day of life, for the affection, for not need an oxygen tank to have a better life. Don't think about what happened, it can no longer be changed and what will come will be resolved along the way.
My dream is to one day be a model and show everyone that you do not need to be perfect to be a model. I hope one day it can come true, and that my story helps people to be encouraged.