Zena

For six months, this Children’s Health℠ hospital room adorned with cutouts of butterflies, hearts and unicorns has been a temporary home for Zena and Kenda.

The room that overlooked the downtown Dallas skyline is where mom and daughter fell asleep at night.

It’s where Kenda potty-trained Zena and where Children’s Health therapy dogs visited and climbed in her bed. It’s where Zena brushed watercolor paint on paper and squished Play-Doh between her hands.

And this room, with its fluorescent lighting, is where earlier this year Kenda and Zena waited on a heart.

A blue-eyed toddler who loves to talk, dance and sing, Zena is the youngest of Kenda’s six living children and her heart is failing.

Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome – a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart -- Zena has been in and out of the hospital for about half her life. On social media, Kenda chronicles Zena’s story in photos, videos and life update posts, hoping to raise awareness of her illness and journey at Children’s Health.

“Back home, back home, back home,” Zena said, wiggling in her chair at the hospital.

“That’s right,” Kenda said. “When do you get to go back home?”

“New heart,” Zena replied.

Choose Children's Health

On social media, Kenda chronicles Zena’s story in photos, videos and life update posts, hoping to raise awareness of her illness and journey at Children’s Health.

During this season of giving, join Zena and Kenda in choosing Children's Health by donating, advocating or volunteering.