Hi Everyone! I'm back again for the annual Heart Walk, walking in honor of my daughter Natalie. Natalie was born with complex congenital heart defect (a CHD) called Tetraology of Fallot. In many instances we were fortunate because her heart defect was detected and diagnosed before she was born, allowing me to meet her pediatric cardiologist and tour the NICU before hand. We knew Natalie would need open heart surgery at some point in infancy, potentially immediately, but optimally within a few months. Again, thankfully, Natalie was stable at birth and didn't need surgery until she was seven months old. Her surgery was a success - holes were patched and her pulmonary stenosis (a narrow pulmonary artery) was corrected. We came home after a week or so in the hospital. Natalie's team always cautioned us that she would need an additional open heart surgery later in life to replace her leaky pulmonary valve. That time came in 2014, and after another week in the hospital, we were home again.
I have seen firsthand the medical advancements made through the research that the American Heart Association funds. Today, many kids like Natalie can have valves replaced trans-cath, instead of through an open procedure. In fact, should the valve she has now ever fail, she'll be able to have it replace trans-cath and be back on her feet in no time.
I walk because I know that with every step, I am saving lives.
We're all tied to heart disease and stroke in some way. We have to change that. Will you help me?
Your donation will fund groundbreaking research that literally keeps hearts beating and helps people have longer, healthier lives.
Have a heart and help me reach my goal today.
