We walk in memory of our son, Brooks Henderson Beeler, who was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). During his short but beautiful life, genetic testing also revealed he carried a mutation linked to ARVC/ACM (Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy). Brooks passed away at just 6 and a half weeks old.
After his passing, Jaclyn underwent testing and discovered she carries the same gene mutation. Further evaluations confirmed that she has ACM. In September 2023, she received an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) to protect her heart, and in 2024 she experienced a tachycardia episode that led to an ablation.
Our family believes Brooks saved his mom's heart and we want to do everything we can to help save as many hearts as we can in return.
Brooks' story is not just ours-it's part of the bigger story of why the Heart Walk matters!
Why it Matters
- Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 1 in 100 babies born in the U.S. each year.
- Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death-and 9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital don't survive. In most cases, bystander CPR was not performed.
- Cardiac arrests happen at work, in homes, on athletic fields, and in neighborhoods everywhere. The readiness of our community can be the difference between life and death.
How You Can Help
It's time to unite, take action, and save lives. Every walker who joins, every dollar donated, means:
- More people trained in lifesaving CPR.
- More research for CHDs and heart conditions like ACM.
- More lifesaving moments for families like ours.
We walk to save lives-and I walk in memory of Brooks.
Help us reach our goal by joining our team or donating today.
Together, we can turn bystanders into lifesavers.
