Jalayna’s Story: Step by Step
When Jalayna was born prematurely, breathing became one of her biggest challenges from the very beginning.
She was diagnosed with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease that required years of specialized care. As a young child, Jalayna depended on a tracheostomy to breathe and spent much of her early life attending doctor’s appointments, therapies, and follow-up visits.
Her family celebrated every step forward because none of them came easily.
One of the biggest milestones in Jalayna’s journey was being decannulated—having her tracheostomy removed after years of depending on it to breathe. It was a day her family had hoped for, but it didn’t mean the journey was over.
Following her decannulation, Jalayna continued to experience noisy breathing and drops in her oxygen levels while sleeping. She still attends regular medical appointments and physical therapy as she continues to grow stronger.
Her mom, Latoya, is there every step of the way.
Latoya is also living with a disability herself, making the demands of frequent appointments and therapies even more challenging. Still, she doesn’t give up and simply says,
“I do the best that I can.”
Like many parents of medically complex children, she focuses on getting Jalayna where she needs to be and celebrating the progress they’ve worked so hard to achieve.
When transportation costs and groceries became another source of stress, The Little Trachs Foundation was able to provide assistance so the family could continue getting Jalayna to her appointments.
After receiving the support, Latoya wrote:
“Thank you all so much for allowing me to feel comfortable in asking for help. I really appreciate everything and this is a huge blessing.”
Those words reflect something we hear often from parents in our community. Asking for help isn’t easy, and receiving it can provide more than practical support—it can remind families that they aren’t navigating this journey alone.
Today, Jalayna continues to work hard in therapy, attend her medical appointments, and reach new milestones. Her journey hasn’t been easy, but she continues moving forward with the support of a family that has been beside her through every challenge.
