NBA superstar Ben Simmons sent a heartwarming text message to his sister, Liv Simmons, after he found out her baby girl was diagnosed with a rare brain condition.
‘Here for you Liv. You really are the strongest person I know and I’m proud to call you my big sis. Love you,’ he texted.
The basketball player did not hesitate to fly out of the United States to be by his sister and niece’s side in Melbourne’s Box Hill Hospital.
NBA star Ben Simmons (left) sent a text showing support to his sister, Liv Simmons, and his baby niece (right), saying, ‘Here for you Liv. You really are the strongest person I know and I’m proud to call you my big sis. Love you’
Pictured are Ben and Liv Simmons – the NBA star jumped on a plane to Australia to be with his sister
Liv Simmons’ daughter Savannah was diagnosed with a rare condition called vein of Galen malformation, a brain blood vessel abnormality.
This means that the brain is connected directly with veins instead of capillaries, which causes a rush of blood into the veins, which in infants can lead to heart failure.
Ms Simmons was only able to hold her newborn for two-and-a-half minutes before an alarm went off, causing doctors and nurses to rush inside the room,The Herald Sun reported.
Savannah was then transferred to Monash Children’s Hospital, where she was officially diagnosed with the rare brain condition.
‘I was listening to the doctors talk and just waiting to hear what we can do to fix it, but then I heard the mortality rate and then I didn’t hear anything,’ the distraught mother said.
Liv and her partner Thadd Varmall (pictured) have to closely monitor Savannah and prepare their newborn for surgery after six months
Ms Simmons considered not telling her brother how serious the situation was, because she did not want to alarm him.
Especially since she knew he was already preoccupied with the NBA and his relationship with supermodel Kendall Jenner.
However, as soon as the NBA star found out, he did not hesitate to leave the country and show support for his sister and her family.
‘We are very close and family is extremely important to us. He just wanted to know what he could do to help,’ she said.
‘I said “If you can take some time out of your busy schedule I’d love to have you here”. He said “I’ll be on the next plane, I wouldn’t be anywhere else in the world”.’
Savannah was able to come home last week after a month in the hospital, but Liv and her partner Thadd Varmall have to closely monitor her and prepare the baby for surgery after six months.
Liv Simmons’ daughter, Savannah (pictured), was diagnosed with a rare condition called the vein of Galen malformation, which showed a blood vessel abnormality in the brain