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Heather Bailey

Heather Bailey

Age: 3 | Gender: F

🎨 Heather: Our Little Explorer with a Big Personality

Being a Charleston Elf is more than a kind gesture—it is a commitment to providing a child the full holiday experience they deserve. While you are not required to purchase every single item on their wish list, the expectation is that each Elf provides the child with all of their holiday gifts. We understand that not everyone can take on that level of commitment alone and warmly encourage you to team up with friends, family, or coworkers who would like to make a meaningful impact as well.

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Heather's Story

Heather may be the youngest in the Bailey family, but she’s got enough energy and charm to keep us all on our toes. At just a few years old, she’s already a whirlwind of curiosity, creativity, and mischief—in the best way possible. Whether she’s dancing to music, getting into something she shouldn’t, or leading a pretend adventure, Heather brings life and laughter to every corner of our home.
She loves exploring, playing, and being read to, and she’s happiest when her hands are busy with arts and crafts or her imagination is running wild. Her joy is contagious, her spirit is unstoppable, and her presence is a daily reminder that even in the hardest times, there’s always room for giggles, glitter, and grace.

Arya’s Journey Fighting Cancer
In 2021, our world was turned upside down when my daughter Arya was diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She was just a child, but the fight ahead of her was anything but small. We spent three long months in the hospital, where Arya endured more than most adults ever will—two surgeries on her arm, multiple central lines and port placements, a G-tube, bleeds in her retinas, and even the removal of a lobe of her lung. A chest tube followed. Each procedure was a mountain to climb, and Arya faced them all with quiet bravery.
During those early days, I was also pregnant. At 21 weeks and 3 days, I delivered a stillborn daughter. The very next morning, I returned to Arya’s hospital room—grieving one child while fighting for another. Two days later, Arya was discharged, still dependent on continuous IV fluids, tube feedings, and intermittent IV medications. I left my career as a nurse to care for her full-time. Her older siblings had to stay elsewhere to protect her fragile immune system, and our family was stretched thin—emotionally, physically, and financially
Arya’s path to maintenance was long and filled with setbacks. It took over a year to reach that milestone. In 2022, her father—who had been estranged from us and his family—passed away from metastatic lung cancer. In the wake of his passing, we reconnected with his family, giving Arya the chance to know a part of her roots.
That November, Arya became a big sister to baby Heather. But in 2023, for the well-being of everyone, we made the difficult decision to leave Heather’s father. Since then, I’ve been working hard to rebuild our lives. Arya completed her cancer treatment that year and was later diagnosed with ADHD. In 2024, I was blessed with a new job in a field that allows me to work from home most of the time—giving me the flexibility to care for my children while also going back to school full-time to grow in my career.
Arya’s journey has been one of unimaginable pain, resilience, and hope. She is a warrior in every sense of the word. This Christmas, any help would be a tremendous blessing to our family. It would ease some of the weight we carry and bring joy to a little girl who has fought so hard to be here.
Thank you for reading Arya’s story—and for holding space in your heart for families like ours. Your kindness means more than you’ll ever know.

Heather's Hobbies & Interests

Exploring, mischief, dancing, music, being read to, playing, arts and crafts

Heather's Wishlist

Shirt Size: XS, Size 3
Pant Size: XS, Size 3
Shoe Size: 7

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1Y6PXEKC83U0I?ref_=list_d_wl_ys_list_3

The Bailey Family

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HOW IT WORKS

Become an Elf

  • Step 1. Select a Child

    Choose a child to sponsor from our list of deserving kids.

  • Step 2. Purchase Items

    Start shopping! Purchase the items from their wishlist.

  • Step 3. Bring Your Gifts

    Join the fun — bring your gifts to our wrapping party.

Make a Donation

You don't have to sponsor a child to help make a difference — make a donation instead to contribute to bringing holiday cheer to a deserving family. 100% of all donation go directly to a family in need.