The family of a 10-month-old girl who has battled heart ailments since birth received a huge surprise from Alpharetta first responders this week.
Dozens of the city's public safety employees visited the infant, Raven Nell Raines and her family to complete much-needed renovations for their home.
Each volunteer worked off-hours at Raven’s grandparents’ home on Sherry Drive to replace old appliances, fix doors, repair the roof and remove overgrown shrubbery.
Since her birth last December, Raven has been in and out of the hospital due to congenital heart defects. She underwent three open heart surgeries during the first four and a half months of her life.
Raven's surgeries have financially strained her parents, Ruthie and Mike, causing the family to move into her grandparents' home. Also, both grandparents have came out of retirement to support their granddaughter.
The service project began earlier this month after the Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation and members from Stonecreek Church caught word of Raven's predicament, according to George Gordon, the city's public safety department spokesman.
Raven and her family will travel to Boston Children's Hospital next month to undergo more evaluations by pediatric heart surgeons.
The family has created a crowdfunding page through YouCaring to help with travel and other costs associated with the trip. Raven's next surgery is scheduled for Dec. 5.
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