I was blessed to not have to think about the importance of heart health until the age of 32.  When I was pregnant with Charlotte she was diagnosed with a VSD (a hole in her heart) and mitral valve stenosis while in utero. The hope before she was born was the hole would close on its own and the mitral valve stenosis would be mild. Unfortunately, once she was born, we learned her heart conditions made it impossible for Charlotte to grow and thrive. The decision was made for Charlotte to have open heart surgey at one-month old. Charlotte is now a fun, creative, spunky, silly, and compassionate eight-year old. No one would know the challenges she had to endure, and that the first 75 days of her life where spent in a hospital, if it was not for her beautiful scar on her chest. 

Our family is supporting the Heart Mini Marathon & Walk to honor Charlotte and all of the heart warriors. AHA is funding research of congential heart defects which will positively impact future heart warriors.

We hope you will join us on Sunday, March 16th!