GRAND JUNCTION, Colo (KKCO) 13- month- old Jason Gutierrez or "Baby Jason" suffers from a congenital heart disease called "hypoplastic left heart syndrome," which means he only has half a heart. On Sunday, a car wash was held in an effort to raise money to help the family get to California for his surgery next month. Many residents stopped by the Hooters restaurant Sunday to donate money. Both mom and dad will have to leave their jobs for months to be with their son while he is in the hospital.

"So in that time we are going to have to have housing, we are going to have pay for food, we are going to have to pay for the general cost of living at the same time as maintain our household down here; so we have something to come home to," says Anthony Gutierrez, Jason's father.

All funds raised will go towards their trip to California, where baby
Jason will have open heart surgery in an effort to save his life.

His parents are hoping to leave by September 8th, and his surgery is scheduled for the 13th.