Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The Cubby’s youngest Hero of the Month to date, the distinction was recently given to three-month-old Serenity Cray of Mars Hill.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Serenity Cray, The Cubby’s three-month-old Hero of the Month for July, has overcome huge obstacles for being so little. Serenity is being held by her mother, Samantha Cray, as Cubby co-owner Cindy Johnson presents the little hero with her check.
As explained by her mother, Samantha Cray, Serenity was born with the congenital heart defect Tetralogy of Fallot — meaning four different parts of her heart needed to be repaired with surgery.
“She had four defects in her heart — her aorta was too large, and her pulmonary valve was too small, and she had a hole in her heart and the right ventricle muscle was too strong,” Samantha briefly explained.
Though the three-month-old will have to undergo a second surgery during her teenage years, Samantha was happy to report that the little hero’s surgery was a success. When Serenity gets older, there will be no limitations on running, jumping, playing — even sports if she wants.
That high-mobility stage associated with the “terrible twos” is a long way away, and like most three-month-olds, Serenity is just discovering her limbs.
“She just found her hands,” Samantha explained, adding a description of how Serenity adorably re-discovers her digits; she’ll stare at them perplexed and wide eyed before sticking them in her mouth.
Serenity is also at the point where she loves the contrast between black and white – showing her something like a chess board makes her smile and giggle, which is something she does more of since the surgery repaired her heart.
“Since she’s had her surgery, there’s a major difference in her. She’s a lot happier now, she smiles a whole lot more and laughs and giggles,” Samantha said.
“It is simply unbelievable the triumphs in modern medicine,” said Cubby Co-owner Cindy Johnson. “Holding Serenity, listening to her coo, it is hard to imagine that she recently underwent corrective heart surgery — proof that blessings come in all sizes,” she added.
July’s little hero lives in Mars Hill with her mom and future stepfather Matt Donnelly.
