Meet May's Legendairy Little, Atarah

Each month we donate a portion of our proceeds to a child with medical needs through the Legendairy Littles program. During the month of May 2025, we will be featuring Atarah.

In September 2024, Atarah’s blended family of 6 welcomed herself and her twin sister at 32 weeks gestation. Atarah’s twin sister spent 33 days in a level 3 NICU and then was able to join her family at home. Within a week of their birth, Atarah would be separated from her twin as she was taken to a level 4 NICU. This decision was made as the medical team was concerned for Atarah’s complex medical issues and concerns over genetic abnormalities.

Since Atarah’s birth she has endured digestive difficulties, pneumonia, sedation, multiple bacterial infections, several blood transfusions, resuscitation, as well as a plethora of additional procedures. Atarah has been diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). ILD is a group of diseases that affect the lungs resulting in irritation, inflammation and scarring of the lungs and the lung sacks. She also has Cri Du Chat. Individuals with Cri Du Chat have a deletion in their Chromosome 5 gene that results in a high-pitched cry that sounds similar to a cat. Due to these conditions, Atarah is being supported by a ventilator and is steroid dependent.

Atarah has failed her first vent wean trial and had to be reintubated shortly after it began due to a critical airway. As they planned for her tracheostomy, Atarah developed Acute Hydrocephalus and had to have an ETV surgery to help her with severely dilated ventricles. Atarah’s medical team performed regular head ultrasounds watching for a need to have a shunt placed. After monitoring for more than a month, Atarah did require a shunt to be placed. This surgery greatly helped with her hydrocephalus (when fluid builds up in the brain). On March 28, 2025, Atarah also had a tracheostomy placed.

Atarah remains in the level 4 NICU and doctors are expecting that she will remain there until her first birthday. Her four older siblings as well as twin sister are eagerly waiting for the day that Atarah is able to join them at home. Her Legendairy Mom is providing breast milk for both Atarah and her twin as well as homeschooling Atarah’s elementary aged siblings. Atarah enjoys reading books and listening to relaxing music in her hospital room.

During the month of May, Legendairy Milk will be making a donation to Atarah's family to help with her medical expenses. If you would like to donate directly to their family, you can do so through their GoFundMe:  https://gofund.me/ec26c70a