My niece and I are both members of the Heart Warriors / Zipper Sisters Club...for those who have survived open heart surgery. We were both born with a CHD (Congential Heart Defect) and we required heart surgery at infancy or we would not have survived into childhood/adulthood.
I am so thankful for the advancements made in medical science due to research and technology nowadays, because doctors were able to catch my nieces condition BEFORE she was even born! Thats incredible to me! Doctors were able to study her CHD and be prepared for heart surgery right away VS. back when I was born in the 80's the doctors didn't catch it until I was 10 months old. My first cardiac surgery I was 11 months old, and while it saved my life....it set me on a path of being a cardiac paitent, in and out of the hospital for much of my childhood. I am thankful after my final surgery I was able to lead a normal life, return to school, and even play sports. However, there have been long lasting effects to my body and health from having multiple heart surgeries.
What most people do not realize is, there is NO CURE for CHD. Surgery does not cure our condition, it only helps with the symptoms/problems. At this stage of my condition, I am facing a somewhat terrifying new problem: a 3cm aneurysm on my descending aorta, that will require surgery if it grows to be 5cm. HOPEFULLY that will not happen, or there will be a breakthrough in how to treat it surgericaly.
Your donation will fund groundbreaking research that literally keeps hearts beating and helps people have longer, healthier lives. People like me and my niece Jovi, who just recently turned 7 years old and going strong! She is a fiesty, energetic, smart, and kind hearted little girl. <3
Have a heart and help me reach my fundraising goal today.
