Lily's Young Ambassador's Story
Tell us about your family, parents, siblings, pets, favorite things to do:
Hi! I love staying active and having fun with activities like soccer, skiing, and gymnastics. I especially enjoy using my creativity in arts and crafting. At home, I have a black lab named Lucy who I love playing with. One of my favorite activities is riding my bike, and I really enjoy going on ski trips with my family.
Tell us about your heart or your loved one's heart. How is your heart different than others?
My heart is special because I was born with two heart conditions: Coarctation of the Aorta and a bicuspid Aorta valve. This means part of my heart wasn't shaped quite right when I was born.
What happened?
When I was almost 3 years old (2.75 years), the doctors found that my aorta (that's the big blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body) was too narrow in one spot. I also had a special kind of heart valve that was a little different from most people's.
What did the doctors do to make you better?
The doctors performed a surgery called Coarctation surgery. They fixed the narrow part of my aorta by removing it and connecting the healthy ends back together. Sometimes they use a special patch to make sure there's enough space for blood to flow through.
How did this make you feel?
I was pretty young when it happened, so it's hard to remember exactly how I felt, but I was probably a little scared. Now, I feel proud of getting through the surgery and grateful that it worked so well! It's amazing to think about how I went from needing heart surgery to being able to do all the fun activities I love today.
How did this experience change your life? Are there things you can't do anymore?
The surgery actually helped me be more active than I was before! While I can't do things like weightlifting or high-impact sports, I've found lots of other fun activities that are safe for me and that I really enjoy, like soccer, skiing, and gymnastics. My doctors have approved these activities, so I can have fun while staying healthy.
How did this affect your friends and family?
This experience helped me understand just how much my family loves and cares for me. They dropped everything to find the best hospital for heart surgeries, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. All my living grandparents came to help my parents and me get through this scary time. My uncle even came all the way from CT to support us!
Tell us about you now:
I am doing better! While I may need to have another surgery as I grow, right now I'm as healthy as I can be. I take care of my heart by going to annual doctor visits to make sure everything is working well.
One of the ways I help other kids with heart conditions is through fundraising. Last year, I helped raise almost $8,000 that goes toward helping families and supporting important heart research. I'm really proud of being able to make a difference for other kids and families who are going through similar experiences.
What do you want people to know about the American Heart Association? Or about participating in Kids Heart Challenge/American Heart Challenge?
The Kids Heart Challenge is all about raising money to help other kids and their families who have heart problems like mine. What makes it really special is that the American Heart Association has created a way to have a fun time while raising money! It's amazing to know that when we participate, we're helping other kids and families who are going through similar experiences.
Thank you!
Love & Kindness,
Lily Fenner