Yuma mom says daughter, 15, in ‘good spirits’ despite dying of heart failure
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A 15-year-old with a rare condition and nears the end of her life, reminisces the good times.
Mercedes Solarez was diagnosed with Loeys Dietz Syndrome at the age of 12-years-old. Before that, she had been misdiagnosed with Stickler Syndrome when she was an infant.
Mercedes was born with an abnormal heartbeat, a club foot, and a cleft pallet.
Throughout her life, she went through several surgeries, wore braces on her legs, and suffered from pain every single day.
In her lifetime though it wasn't always despairing, as she fought through the pain and created some memorable memories with her family and friends.
In 2018, Make a Wish Foundation took Mercedes on a trip to Disneyland in Orlando. Her mom, Valene, described her daughter to have been the happiest girl in the world when she met the Disney characters she had never met before. Until this day, it's still something Solarez reminisces about.
Last month, Mercedes celebrated her Quinceñera where her family from all over the country flew in to celebrate her big day. Valene said her daughter had been looking forward to this day since she turned 14, and did all they could to make it a day worth remembering.
Unfortunately in January, Mercedes's heart began to swell, and although they were still able to celebrate her big day, she was still in physical pain.
Mercedes is now in heart failure where she is at her home under hospice care. Her condition continues to get worse, but even with everything going on her mother says she still tries to put a smile on her face.
Valene said her daughter has come to terms with what is going on and even requested to be cremated once she is gone.
The family set up a fundraiser account to help with expenses to fulfill Mercedes's requests and help her parents out.
Tune in to News 11 at 5 p.m. as Crystal Jimenez speaks to Mercedes's mother as she continues to celebrate her daughter's life and her strong will to live since she was a little girl.
