The Heart Walk is an event that is very important to me! My daughter Brooke was born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). She powered through 3 open-heart surgeries before she was 1 1/2 years old - her first was just at 24 hours after she made her appearance into this world!
For the next few years, Brooke did well. She grew and was as healthy as she could be. However, when she was 5, here health started declining and the doctors determined there was nothing more that could be do with her existing heart and she would require a heart transplant. She endured the transplant evaluations and testing to see if she would be a good candidate. The transplant team agreed she was. After waiting for 6 months, Brooke received her heart transplant.
Brooke took her daily medications, went to her appointments, and was followed closely by the transplant team. However, she after several years, this heart began to fail. Again, Brooke went through a second heart transplant. She did amazingly well.
Brooke participated each year in the Heart Walk and always raised upwards of $1,500 each year. She was so proud to tell her Cardiologist of her accomplishments with the Heart Walk. She knew the funds raised would benefit her, as well as other children and adults who were fighting the battle with heart disease. Brooke was so thrillled to learn that her cardiologist received a grant from the American Heart Association for research that was a benefit to not only her but many other children at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Unfortunately, in 2019, Brooke lost her battle with heart disease. Each year I continue to walk in her memory. Please consider walking with me, giving a donation to help support me or if you are not able to walk or donate, please simply share my story.