4 years ago, my wife Rahmah and I welcomed our precious daughter Rahiima into this world. Rahiima was born with a complex congenital heart defect and had life-saving open heart surgery at 2 years. Despite the fact that she is currently living without a pulmonary valve, she is doing great. She is a sweet and sassy 4-year-old girl. She loves pre-school and playing with her three siblings.
We still do not know what caused Rahiima’s congenital heart defect or if there was a way to prevent it, but as I sit here today, I realize that we are the lucky ones. Rahiima is here with us and she is thriving. She inspires us as a family and our greatest prayer as a family is for her to live a great and wonderful life and be able to pursue a medical profession and be able to help people in similar complex life threatening situations.
We are so grateful to Gift of Life International and Rob Raylman for the great intervention offered to our beautiful Rahiima.
Brenda Small is the Operations Consultant at Gift of Life International. She assumed this role in 2012.
Brenda was inspired to help children in need with heart disease after her third child was born with a complex heart defect and underwent successful open-heart surgery in her first year of life. Brenda learned of Gift of Life International in 2006 at which time she established Gift of Life Los Angeles where she holds the position of President. Between 2008 and 2012, Brenda volunteered her time to help with Gift of Life International in addition to running Gift of Life Los Angeles.
From 2012 to 2022, Brenda held the position of Director of Operations for Gift of Life International. Today, she continues this lifesaving work as Operations Consultant. Brenda also implemented the Nutritional Program in El Salvador in 2008 which has now provided nutritional support to more than 250 children and their families. Brenda has traveled with many of the Gift of Life training teams and witnessed these precious lives being saved.
