In early 2024, The Brianna Marie Foundation donated $20K to the Fetal Health Foundation to continue our mutual support of the University of California at San Francisco Hydrops Center of Excellence.

What is Hydrops?

According to the Center’s website, “A fetus with hydrops fetalis has an abnormal buildup of fluid under the skin, in the abdomen, or around the lungs or heart. Hydrops is usually caused by another medical condition that affects how the body manages fluid, such as a genetic disease, viral infection, or birth defect … Hydrops carries high risks of stillbirth, early delivery, and complications for the newborn and pregnant person.“

The Center’s specialists have decades of experience diagnosing and treating pregnancies with hydrops and includes internationally recognized experts from maternal-fetal medicine, genetics, radiology, pediatric surgery, neonatal medicine, pediatric cardiology and many other subspecialities.

About the Brianna Marie Foundation

In March of 2012, Aran Hissam’s baby girl, Brianna Marie, passed away from Hydrops. Later that year, she started a foundation in her daughter’s name. “When we were diagnosed, Dr. Quintero offered us hope. That is why I started the Brianna Marie Foundation. I don’t want parents to think there are no options,” Aran explained.

Over the years, Aran’s work has raised more than $800K to advance fetal medicine. “The Fetal Health Foundation was there for me from the beginning. Dr. Quintero connected me to Lonnie [Somers, co-founder of Fetal Health Foundation] just after Brianna’s passing, and later, I worked on the [FHF] board for years,” said Aran. “I’m dedicated to Fetal Health [Foundation] because they do so much to help people find care, make contacts, and offer connections. I don’t believe things just happen,” said Aran. “This is what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s why I was put on this earth, and I will do it as long as I can.”

Lonnie believes Aran has created an incredible legacy for Brianna Marie and her short life. “The work Aran has done in providing hope, support, and research, is making an amazing difference in Fetal Hydrops treatment and research,” he said. “We could not be more honored and grateful to Aran and the Brianna Marie Foundation for their generosity and support that allows us to continue our grant programs to USCF.”