Young Girl to Undergo Third Open Heart Surgery, Local Business Steps in to Help

BROOKSVILLE – Instead of celebrating the new year at home with her family, a young teenage girl will be spending the next few months recovering from her third open heart surgery.

14-year-old Le'Mena was born with Down Syndrome and has a heart condition that requires her to undergo several operations as she gets older. Le'Mena nearly died when she contracted COVID during the height of the pandemic, says her mother, Stephanie Hartt.

Hartt says it's hard being a single mother of three children and struggling to make ends meet, but when unexpected medical expenses arise, it becomes almost unbearable.

Hartt works for Savages Bar & Grill in Brooksville, and her employers, Jennifer and Jeremy Gambrell, decided to do what they can to help Stephanie make it through this trying time.

On Saturday December 31st (New Year's Eve), Savages will be holding benefit to raise money for Stephanie and her children.

There is expected to be to DJs, a Raffle, and Silent Auction, during the event.

Savages is located at 1691 E. Jefferson Street in Brooksville.

A GOFUNDME has been established to help the family with expenses related to Le'Mena's surgery.