In an uplifting scene at Peck Elementary School in Chicago’s South Side, a first grader named Joselin Nevarez received an enthusiastic welcome back on Tuesday after undergoing critical heart surgery. Her return was marked by cheers and heartfelt hugs from her classmates and teacher, all of whom wore red to raise awareness about heart health.

As Joselin stepped into the school, the excited voices of students chanting her name, “Joselin, Joselin,” filled the hallways, creating a memorable and touching moment for everyone involved.

Joselin’s journey has been marked by her battle with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a rare congenital condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, this defect results in the underdevelopment or small size of the heart’s left side, posing significant health challenges from birth.

Joselin has lived her young life with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a rare condition that children are born with. The Mayo Clinic defines the condition as a congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart doesn’t develop entirely or is too small.

Joselin received a heart transplant over the summer following various treatments. She has spent the last few months recovering, but Tuesday marked her first day back to school for the 2025-26 academic year.