On January 31, 2023, my niece Althea was born with a heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot (four heart problems that affect blood flow through the heart and the rest of the body) with pulmonary atresia and Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries (MAPCAs). In this condition, the valve that helps move blood from the heart to the lungs doesn't form correctly. She had her first heart surgery at just 8 days old to start the process of correcting this defect. At 10 months old, she had major reconstructive open heart surgery. Between surgeries, she’s had a total of 8 cardiac catheterizations to place stents in her heart and balloon vessels. These procedures also help determine when her next surgery will be, which could be as early as a few months from now. She will need lifelong surgeries and maintenance, with the frequency of surgeries being in childhood. Despite all of this, she is a happy and sassy three year old whose strength never fails to amaze me. She is my hero and the bravest person I know. Running has been my sanctuary through the anxiety, stress and grief that came with her diagnosis. Because of her condition, it’s unclear if she will get to experience the joy and freedom of running. My hope is that she can watch me finish this race and know that with a dream in your mended heart and support from your community, nothing is impossible.
To make this a reality, we need to fundraise $2,500 to get me to the start line. It would mean the absolute world to me to receive any donation amount to help me reach my goal. Let’s show my sweet Althea how many people are cheering her on!
