Jolene and Sky’s Story:
During Hayle’s pregnancy with Sky, doctors discovered a cyst on the baby’s neck. The pregnancy quickly became high-risk, leading to multiple hospitalizations and growing concern. At just 34 weeks, Hayle underwent an emergency delivery due to fluid around Sky’s heart and lungs.
Only two hours after birth, Sky was life-flighted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s NICU. There, doctors discovered her heart was dangerously enlarged and weak. At only one month old, she was placed on the transplant list for a life-saving heart.
During Sky’s medical crisis, doctors recommended testing her big sister, Jolene. The results revealed Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a serious, previously undetected heart condition. In a moment of extraordinary clarity, Hayle found hope in the heartbreak. She realized that Sky’s diagnosis may have very well saved Jolene’s life. Without it, Jolene’s heart condition could have gone undetected until it was too late.
Miraculously, just 23 days after being listed, Sky received a donor heart. Her recovery was long and filled with complications, but she was finally discharged at six months old. Since then, she’s battled dystonia and multiple hospital stays, but her spirit remains unshakable. In September 2023, the family celebrated two years without a single hospitalization.
To honor her daughters’ journeys, and Sky’s heart donor, Hayle got a tattoo of two hands forming an anatomical heart with butterflies, symbols of Sky’s donor and what the family calls “God’s kisses.”
A Special Surprise:
Ahead of the 2025 Send-Off Celebration, Carley Stephens, Director of Corporate Giving at Gas South, heard Jolene and Sky’s story and instantly knew their family needed to be celebrated in a big way.
Gas South stepped in with a surprise that left everyone in tears, a weeklong family retreat to the breathtaking Callaway Gardens, where they could enjoy their very own private villa and have the chance to explore breathtaking landscapes and endless family fun!
In honor of Sky’s heart donor, Gas South also arranged a visit to the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, a vibrant conservatory where over 1,000 butterflies flutter freely and new ones take flight each day.
A Heartfelt Adventure at Callaway Gardens:
From July 3rd to 7th, Jolene, Sky, Hayle, and their grandparents enjoyed a stay in their own private four-bedroom deluxe villa within the lush landscape of Callaway Gardens. Surrounded by nature’s beauty, they embraced a week full of laughter, love, and unforgettable experiences, such as hiking, biking, swimming, paddle boating, golf cart rides (and naps!). The entire family even went fishing, which is something Grandpa had been especially excited to share with the girls.
One of the most meaningful moments of the trip was their visit to the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, a serene sanctuary filled with over 1,000 butterflies fluttering freely. For a family who sees butterflies as a symbol of life, love, and hope, this magical experience felt deeply personal and healing.
The magic didn’t stop there! The family enjoyed a beachside luau, dazzling fireworks, the Treetop Adventure zipline, and a wild animal safari filled with the cutest creatures around.
Thank You, Gas South!
This incredible retreat was more than just a vacation, it was a celebration of hope! Thank you, Gas South, for recognizing the strength of this extraordinary family and giving them a chance to reconnect, recharge, and reflect.
Your kindness and generosity truly fuel the good in this world.
