Strawberry Henderson has spent much of her young life inside hospital walls. Monitors, IV poles, medical teams, and long stays in recovery rooms have been all she’s known.
“Our days are filled with medical routines most people never have to think about: tube feeds, medications, monitoring, appointments, and long hospital stays,” says her mother, Mary Henderson. “There have been countless nights sleeping in chairs, waiting on lab results, and making decisions no parent ever expects to face.”
From birth, Strawberry’s body has worked harder than most. Eating, gaining weight, or simply staying medically stable have required extraordinary effort. Progress often comes slowly, and setbacks can happen without warning.
Strawberry was born with heterotaxy syndrome and severe congenital heart defects, including an atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), common atrium, vascular ring, and abnormalities in her major veins. These complex heart differences have required multiple major surgeries, including valve repairs. She continues to live with residual valve narrowing and leakage that demand lifelong monitoring, medication, and specialized cardiac care.
In addition to her heart condition, Strawberry has functional asplenia, meaning her spleen does not function properly. As a result, she faces a higher risk of serious infection and requires daily antibiotics, along with urgent medical assessment for fevers.
Her challenges extend beyond her heart and immune system. Strawberry has significant feeding and gastrointestinal complications, including feeding intolerance, gut motility issues, and a history of intussusception — a potentially dangerous bowel condition. After experiencing failure to thrive, she required long-term IV nutrition (TPN) to support growth. Today, she still relies on tube feeding and specialized nutrition, and eating by mouth remains difficult.
Her medical history also includes chronic anemia, blood transfusions, and a serious gastrointestinal bleeding episode.
While her medical complexity presents extraordinary challenges, her care team remains focused on strengthening her heart function, supporting her growth, protecting her from infection, and ensuring the best quality of life possible.
Since January, 20, 2026, Strawberry has undergone two additional major heart surgeries.
“The process leading up to surgery was overwhelming and emotional,” Henderson says. “After everything Strawberry has already been through, hearing she needed another heart surgery was heavy — even though we knew it was the right step to help her.”
The weeks leading up to surgery were filled with appointments, scans, and detailed conversations with her cardiac team to determine the best path forward.
“Going into surgery, I was scared — any parent would be — but I also had a lot of trust in her doctors and surgeons,” she says. “Strawberry has shown us over and over how strong she is. I kept reminding myself that this surgery was meant to give her a better, healthier future.
“It was one of those moments where your heart is breaking and hopeful at the same time. You just hold your baby, say a prayer, and put your faith in the team caring for her.”
Under the care of the team at SickKids Hospital, Strawberry’s spirit has continued to shine.
Despite everything she has endured, her mother describes her as “the life of the party.”
“She is extremely happy, full of joy, and brings light into every room she’s in,” Henderson says. “Even in hospital settings, she smiles, engages, and connects with the people around her. Her happiness is real and powerful, and it reminds everyone caring for her that she is so much more than her medical needs.”
Henderson hopes others understand that medical complexity does not define a child.
“The tubes, machines, scars, and hospital walls are part of her story, but they are not who she is,” she says. “Behind all of it is a little girl with a big personality, awareness, and resilience — a child who has already endured more than many do in a lifetime.”
Through her daughter’s journey, Henderson says she has learned to celebrate even the smallest victories — a tolerated feeding, a stronger smile, a few more grams gained — milestones that carry enormous meaning in medically complex care.
She also encourages other parents walking a similar path to trust their instincts.
“Your intuition and motherly instincts are powerful tools. You know your child better than anyone,” she says. “You notice subtle changes that even medical tests may not immediately show. Trust yourself, even when it feels scary.”
At the same time, she stresses the importance of leaning on support systems and seeking second opinions when needed.
“Having that additional expert input reassured us that we weren’t missing anything and that Strawberry’s team was moving in the right direction,” Henderson says. “It strengthened the overall plan, improved communication, and gave us peace of mind as parents knowing every option had been carefully considered. Ultimately, it helped ensure Strawberry received the most thoughtful, thorough care possible.”
On January, 26, Strawberry received encouraging news from her cardiac team at SickKids Hospital and was cleared to return home. However, the transition has come with its own ups and downs, including two readmissions over the past month. Strawberry is currently back home soaking in the love and attention of her siblings.
“We really hoped that all the symptoms would go away after her second cardiac surgery, but they didn’t all go away, she still has oxygen desaturation and turns blue sometimes,” Henderson says. “I’m just very blessed that we still have a child. Even the teams didn’t think Strawberry would ever get to where she is today and Strawberry has a phenomenal complex care team and cardiologist. I mean, phenomenal!”
If you wish to follow Strawberry’s journey or support the Henderson family, information is available through their GoFundMe page. https://gofund.me/ed309dacd
For the Henderson family, the road ahead may still hold challenges, but it is also filled with hope and with the unmistakable joy of a little girl whose strength continues to inspire everyone around her.
