Aubree Nicole DeWitt is a petite, fun-loving 5-year old girl with a lot of courage and an unstoppable will to live.
She was born with Hypo-Plastic Left Heart Syndrome, a rare congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. In addition, she was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects 1 in 2,000 -5,000 people. It’s rare to have both defects. “She was never expected to make it through delivery, let alone 2 of her Heart Surgeries,” said her grandmother Kara McCue.
For over a month, she has been at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, awaiting a heart replacement. “During the long ordeal, she hasn’t lost her sassy disposition”, says her mother Kristin Beck DeWitt.
Because of Aubree’s low resistance and possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus, the only person she has been able to have with her for the past month is her mother. Both Aubree and her mom miss being with family. The family was hoping to use Ronald McDonald House (RMH) as their home base during her stay at Shands but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, RMH is closed, making it difficult for the family to be near.
For now, Aubree only gets brief glimpses of her dad, Cameron DeWitt, her little three-year-old sister Savannah Grace, and grandparents Robert and Kara McCue (all long-time Clermont residents). Robert McCue is the principal of Clermont Middle School.
Kristin praises the amazing support group that the family has had since Aubree was born. She states, “From day 1, I don’t know how I would be managing without every single person who has helped us along this journey. I have met some amazing people who have become family and friends”.
“We pray daily that our girl gets her perfect match and can get her transplant. We are looking forward to her coming home and living life to the fullest. Then, we will pray and be forever grateful for the donor family that gives Aubree more life to live”, says Kristin.
Aubree plans to celebrate her 6th birthday on July 24 at her home surrounded by her family and friends.
In the meantime, Aubree loves receiving cards and girlie stuff. It brightens her days. Let little Aubree know that the south Lake Community is praying that she receives her new heart, recovers quickly, and returns home soon. Send cards to
Ronald McDonald House
c/o Kristin Beck DeWitt
1600 SW 14th St
Room 10
Gainesville, FL 32608
