My sister was informed during her pregnancy, Rachel, my niece had the congenital heart defect atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) and would require open heart surgery soon after she was born to repair. She was only 4 months old when this occurred. She got through that like a champ! Unfortunately, Rachel’s heart journey did not stop there. She would face another, more complicated open-heart surgery on March 8th, 2023 at the age of 13. We were expecting 1 open heart surgery to replace a valve and a 5 day stay in the hospital. This turned into 4 surgeries and a 13 day stay in the ICU. As challenging of a time this second open heart surgery was, she is so resilient. She kicked butt and worked hard to get out of there and home. She brought a little extra hardwire home and now relies on a pacemaker. Today she is a 15 year old thriving, surviving, sassy, biggest heart having 15 year old I know. She rocks her scars as she knows she earned every one of them!
She is my why! The reason I am so passionate about getting involved, contributing to, and supporting the American Heart Association. Through walks such as this, AHA can help fund cardiovascular research to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Rachel's heart journey is still not over. One day she will require another open heart surgery and I am hopeful the funds you and I raise today will contribute to advancements in medicine to make her next surgery not so challenging.
