We walk in the annual American Heart Association Heart Walk and raise funds for heart research with a passion. MATTHEW IS OUR WHY.
Twelve years ago, during agility training, my husband noticed that our son, Matthew, was getting tired easily. He thought Matthew's wheezing and breathing heavily was due to his mild asthma.
We brought him to his pediatrician, thinking that he would prescribe an inhaler. However, when the doctor examined Matthew, he said he heard a loud murmur that he's never heard before.
So we took Matthew to a cardiologist. After looking at an echocardiogram, the cardiologist noticed that Matthew's aortic valve was damaged, causing a leakage, which is known as aortic insufficiency. Due to this leakage, his left ventricle was enlarged for his age since more effort is needed to pump blood.
The diagnosis was very difficult for my husband and me. We struggled with the "why" since Matthew's cardiologist says it is not congenital and there is no history of it on either side of our family.
ON JULY 6TH, 2021, MATTHEW FINALLY HAD HIS OPEN HEART SURGERY TO REPAIR HIS AORTIC VALVE. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT THE SURGERY WAS A SUCCESS AND THAT HE IS NOW LIVING HIS BEST LIFE AS A COLLEGE SENIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
This will be our eleventh year raising money for the AHA and we know the money we raise will help to save and improve the lives of those with heart disease as it has for Matthew. We continue to raise money each year for the American Heart Association so that they can continue to fund research.
Over the past 10 years, we have raised $50,000+ based on your generous contributions alone plus company matches in support of Matthew.
We are extremely grateful to our family, friends, and colleagues who have been so supportive and generous throughout the years and continue to be there for us and Matthew.
Thank you in advance for your continued support!
Love, Michael, Maria, Matthew, & Mason
