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Light up the Darkness with Dawn

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Light up the Darkness with Dawn

Dawn Isabella Willow Logan is a girl with Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Defects. Lighting up the Darkness one day at a time. It was a complete success.

Many years ago (late 80s) 2 teenagers met and fell in love, though after high school they went their separate ways. Well over a decade and half later they reconnected and became closer than ever. They wished so desperately for the culmination of their love would bear them fruit. It took another decade for this dream to be realized. Once Dawn Isabella Willow was realized it came to light that she had several complications, the first was Trisomy 21 which is known commonly as Down Syndrome. The other major issue was a congenital heart defect (Ebstien's Anomaly, ASD, VSD, PDA) which threatened to take her from us before she really began living. Dawn went in for heart surgery at an age younger than any child had gone for similar complications. The surgery was successful, unfortunately it revealed the true weakness with the design of her heart. She was considered the sickest child in the southern united states afterwards. Within 15 hours after surgery she went on life support and the next day went back into the operating room for a second open heart surgery. The Dr that performed her surgery said he performed origami on her heart and created a heart valve that has never been done before. The Dr that did this was the same one that had performed the first surgery and was almost in tears after that surgery with a great burden weighing on him, as if he had failed her, but the second surgery he seemed as if he would have a lifetime of joyous follow-ups with Dawn. No one knows how long Dawn will have with her new heart, we are completely in uncharted territory. A lifetime of waiting has brought this world one of the most unique and beautifully original people Dawn Isabella Willow. Light up the Darkness forever and always, we can't let her down. At 2 1/2 it was time for the next chapter...
We knew this time would eventually come and it is here! The decision has been made by Dawn's cardiac team that it is time to repair her bad Tricuspid valve again. We have been so fortunate to have over 2 years without any major heart complications. She will now be scheduled for another open heart surgery and the surgeon will hopefully be able to do a 'simple' repair that will last a few more years or longer! And here we are 5 1/2 years later and we are moving into the next chapter in Dawn's heart health! The pressure are increasing and her valve is not working as it should. Time for another change...

01/29/2026

We are looking for 10 local businesses that would be interested in being a 2026 sponsor for just!!! Please tag your friends.... We want to represent middle Tennessee in a big way in Pigeon Forge this March at Tennessee State Tennessee Festival Pageants!
Message me for more details!

10/14/2025

Dawn needs YOUR help!!!
Help us support an amazing organization Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee!!
Drop a comment to boost her!!

https://charity.pledgeit.org/theextramile/teams/

Welcome to our 2025 The Extra Mile® team fundraising page! This is Dawn's 12th walk with DSAMT and we want to make it the best year ever! We need you, our family and friends to support us in this endeavor! Make a donation of any amount (every dollar stays local to provide programs/support to our Do...

07/31/2025

Make a donation today of any amount to help Dawn and the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee !!

07/18/2025

Thank you Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee Tanya Brasel Chavez and Abby Chandler for an amazing week at Art Camp!!
Dawn had so much fun hanging with her friends...and making new ones in addition to all the art projects!
Tie dye shirts, hot air balloons, resin coasters, a wreath for her door, bleach 'Wednesday ' shirt, ceramic vase, tissue paper flower and butterfly and her newest snuggle blanket...just wow!
Then there were the guest...music therapy, the Frist, COUNTRY music hall of fame...
And of course the volunteers all the way from Texas!
So much care, devotion and love went into planning and providing this camp for Dawn and her friends!! We can never thank them enough!
If any of this puts a smile on your face, would you consider making a donation to DSAMT?!? I'll post the link to Dawn's EXTRAMile team in the comments!

07/15/2025

It is that time!! Help us get ready for The Extra Mile® by joining Dawn's walk team, making a donation and/or sharing with your friends and family!
Help us raise funds for the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee and advocate for all those with that little something EXTRA!
We want to make this this BEST year ever!

https://charity.pledgeit.org/theextramile/teams/

07/08/2025

We are home!! Dawn got the all clear early this morning after a chest xray, bloodwork and short visit from her cardiologist! Her new valve is just pumping along, blood flow looks good and it is perfectly placed. The only slight problem we have is her heart rate dropping a little low, but they are looking into possible causes!
She should be ready to return to normal activities in a few days/week...but today we are resting. For some reason after napping all day yesterday she didn't feel the need to sleep last night. So even with extra energy thanks to the new valve, we are still tired. Hoping we all get back on a regular schedule soon!
She found the sweetest gift and note on the porch when we got home from our friends at Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee ... always making a girl (and her family) feel loved and cared for!! Thank you so much!!!
April

07/07/2025

Update!!
Dawn's procedure went very well. Dawn has a brand new Tricuspid heart valve (transcatheter valve-in-valve)! This one should last another 10 years!

She needed a new valve NOW...the pressure was so high and her valve leaflets were barely moving. She should feel so much better now!

Waiting to see her in recovery...we will be staying the night for monitoring!
Thank you all for the prayers and thoughts! It means the world to us!!
(Picture from mothers day pics!)

We got here bright and early 6am to get all checked in and talk to all the people!
She headed off to MRI about 8:15 and then will go into the heart cath. It is going to be several hours before we see her but should get regular updates.

07/06/2025

Keep us in your prayers and positive thoughts for tomorrow. We have to be at Vandy EARLY for Dawn's brain MRI and Heart Cath and will be there most of the day. She has to remain still and flat for 4 hours after the cath, which requires her staying sedated.
The MRI is being done to rule out any issues as we are walking down the path of Down syndrome regression and want to make sure we have checked everything. She will be sedated for this so she shouldnt experience any anxiety/fear during.
The heart cath is to see what her Tricuspid valve pressure looks like and get a good look at her artificial valve. She has had this valve since she was 2 1/2 (9 years) so it has had a pretty good life not to mention that she has grown A LOT since then and the valve just doesn't grow with her. We are already prepared that she WILL need a new valve sooner than later. They 'may' try to replace is (valve in valve) during this cath but more than likely we will be scheduling a separate valve replacement surgery.
These are the days that make my heart weary and the feelings are so strong. I know we have a village behind and beside us during this and I try to remain positive and know that this is just another hurdle my girl will cross in her life. She has so much life left to live and we just have to give her all the opportunities to do just that!

06/23/2025

For everything there is a season...and we are currently entering a medical season with Dawn. She has several medical 'things' coming up in the next few weeks that can/will lead to more medical 'things'. It brings back all the memories and emotions from her first few years of life where she had SO many 'things' and spent so much time at Vandy.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we help her live her best life while we navigate the challenging times ahead!
(Specifically thoughts Tuesday morning as we head in for a sleep deprived EEG and July 7th for her heart cath/brain MRI+)

06/23/2025

06/13/2025

THANK YOU Paula Pierce for supporting my girl!!
Her Miss Dollyfest 2025 page is full!!!

Thank you!!

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