A Heart Without Limits: Za'Niyah's Congenital Heart Disease Journey

April 06, 2026

Kelly, ZaNiyah, and Dr. Frank Scholl

For Kelly, the world seemed to stop at 23 weeks of pregnancy. A routine scan revealed that her unborn daughter, Za'Niyah, had Truncus Arteriosus, a congenital heart condition where the large blood vessel coming out of the heart fails to separate into two, leaving the heart to struggle with a single output and a large hole.

From that moment, Kelly wasn’t just a mother-to-be, she was a partner in a lifelong medical journey at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Heart Institute. The fear of the unknown was met with immediate support from the pediatric cardiac team. Julissa Escorcia, RN, a pediatric nurse at the Heart Institute, remembers meeting Kelly during those first frightening days.

We met Kelly when she had just found out the news that her baby had a heart defect. It’s a scary time for them, so we try to support them and help provide reassurance and answer any questions that they have.

Julissa Escorcia, RN

Kelly felt that connection instantly.

"It was an instant bond with the team. Their compassion and their care and their love and their understanding for what I was going through was just incredible".

The Skilled Hands of Healing

Zi’Niyah’s battle began just two weeks after she was born, when she underwent her first open-heart surgery to close the hole in her heart and connect her heart to her lungs.

Frank Scholl, MD, chief of Pediatric & Congenital Cardiac Surgery, explains the profound responsibility of this work.

When a family brings you their child to care for them, that level of trust, I don’t think, gets any higher.

Frank Scholl, MD

As Za’Niyah grew, her heart required further interventions to keep pace with her body. At age 11, she returned for her third open-heart surgery to replace the tube connecting her heart to her lungs.

Thriving in the Arena

Today, Za’Niyah is far more than a "cardiac patient." She is a thriving young woman who refuses to be slowed down. She has found her passion in horseback riding, where she doesn't just ride, she competes. For Dr. Scholl, seeing Za'Niyah succeed in the competitive arena is the ultimate reward.

"We've watched her blossom into this beautiful young woman who rides horses. She's an amazing young lady and it’s incredibly rewarding. You’re watching this little miracle grow right in front of your eyes."

When asked about her favorite part of the hospital, Za’Niyah points to Dr. Scholl.

"He's my favorite because he saved my life".

Thanks to the seamless care between neonatologists, pediatric cardiologists, and surgeons, Za’Niyah is living out her dreams and proving that a heart defect doesn't define a person's future.

Za'Niyah's Congenital Heart Disease Journey

Za'Niyah was diagnosed with truncus arteriosus, a rare congenital heart defect, while her mom, Kelly, was still pregnant. The trusted cardiac team at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital worked with Kelly to ensure the best possible outcome, and today, she is a healthy young woman with a bright future.