A Family’s Story and Commitment to CHD Research

By Dr. Brittany Rodriguez, DrPH, MSW

My name is Dr. Brittany Rodriguez, DrPH, MSW, and I currently serve as Mrs. California United Crown of America 2026 in the Miss United Crown of America Pageant, where my platform focuses on raising awareness of congenital heart defects and supporting heart warrior families. That mission is deeply personal and rooted in our family’s story.

At 12 weeks into my pregnancy, my family learned that something was wrong with my son Sebastian’s heart. That moment changed our lives forever. What began as a joyful milestone quickly shifted into a journey shaped by specialized prenatal care, complex medical planning, and the emotional reality of preparing to welcome a child whose life would begin with significant health challenges.

Our pregnancy, already deeply meaningful after previous losses, became a series of carefully coordinated medical appointments and decisions. Sebastian is our double rainbow baby, our gift after loss, and from the very beginning, his life has carried profound significance for our family. This experience is what fuels my work as Mrs. California, where I aim to elevate awareness and understanding of congenital heart defects.

Because of the severity of Sebastian’s congenital heart defects, a scheduled induction was planned to ensure immediate access to pediatric cardiac care at birth. That plan quickly changed and became an emergency cesarean section, underscoring how unpredictable and urgent high-risk pregnancies involving congenital heart disease can be.

Sebastian was born with multiple complex congenital heart defects, including double outlet right ventricle, complete transposition of the great vessels, and congenital hypoplasia of the aortic arch. At just five days old, he required full heart reconstruction surgery. When his originally scheduled surgeon became unavailable, the chief of cardiology at our hospital advocated on Sebastian’s behalf and coordinated with a world-renowned pediatric heart surgeon at another hospital. That physician agreed, on extremely short notice, to take Sebastian’s case and perform his life saving surgery on a Saturday, even though this type of surgery is rarely performed on weekends. That collaboration and advocacy quite literally saved my son’s life and continues to shape my commitment to advocating for systems of care that support families facing complex medical journeys.

What followed were many long weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Our family learned to navigate constant monitoring, procedures, setbacks, and fragile progress. Like many heart warrior families, we measured time in heart rhythms and oxygen levels rather than days or weeks, holding onto hope one moment at a time. These lived experiences continue to inform my advocacy efforts to support and uplift heart warrior families across our communities.

Support beyond medical care was also essential. We were able to stay near the hospital through Ronald McDonald House, which allowed us to remain close to Sebastian during critical moments of his care. That proximity made it possible for us to be present for every update, every decision, and every moment that mattered most. Experiences like this highlight the importance of community-based support systems, something I actively advocate for through my platform.

Equally important was the broader network of support surrounding us. Family and friends provided encouragement, meals, and prayer. The hospital chaplain prayed with us daily, offering comfort and peace during some of our most uncertain hours. This collective support helped sustain us through one of the most difficult seasons of our lives and reinforces the importance of holistic care in supporting families navigating medical crises.

Congenital heart defects impact entire families, not just individual patients. Sebastian’s big brother, Elijah, demonstrated remarkable strength, patience, and love during our time in the hospital. Today, Sebastian is also a big brother himself. His younger brother, Derik, is one of his greatest supporters. Watching their relationship grow has been one of the most meaningful parts of our journey. Despite everything he has endured, Sebastian continues to show empathy, kindness, and compassion, qualities shaped by both his journey and the love within our family.

Sebastian would not be here today without medical advocacy, research, funding, and coordinated systems of care. Advances in pediatric cardiology made possible through sustained research investment gave our son a chance at life. These innovations, combined with collaborative medical teams, demonstrate the power of integrated, systems level approaches to complex health conditions, an approach I continue to champion through my advocacy work.

Our family’s experience has made clear that congenital heart defects are not rare, simple, or resolved by a single surgery. They require lifelong care, continued innovation, coordinated systems, and sustained research funding. Research improves prenatal detection, informs surgical and clinical decision making, strengthens collaboration across institutions, and shapes long term outcomes for heart warriors and their families.

This is why our family is deeply grateful for and aligned with the mission of The Children’s Heart Foundation. The Foundation’s commitment to funding life saving research directly impacts families like ours and helps ensure that children born with congenital heart defects have better options, better care, and better futures.

As Mrs. California United Crown of America 2026, I am committed to using my platform to raise awareness, support heart warrior families, and advocate for continued research and resources that improve outcomes for children born with congenital heart defects.

We share our story in both gratitude and hope. Gratitude for the research, care, and advocacy that saved our son’s life and hope that continued investment in congenital heart defect research will transform outcomes for future heart warriors and the families who walk this journey alongside them.

Author Bio

Dr. Brittany Rodriguez, DrPH, MSW is a social work educator, public health professional, and congenital heart defect advocate. She currently serves as Mrs. California United Crown of America 2026 in the Miss United Crown of America Pageant.

Inspired by her son Sebastian’s journey and her experience as a heart warrior mama, she advocates for greater awareness, research, and support for families navigating congenital heart defects, including organizations like The Children’s Heart Foundation and Ronald McDonald House.

Advocacy Platform
Raising awareness for congenital heart defects and supporting heart warrior families through education, advocacy, research awareness, and community support.