When I was born, I had 2 holes in my heart. This may breathing and eating very difficult since the blood wasn't circulating correctly. As my partents visited with the doctors at Primary Children's, they informed us that they would need to perform open heart surgery to repair the holes. This procedure required them to break my sternum, open up my heart, and sew in two patches over the holes. It was a pretty intricate procedure to do on an 18 month old's little heart. Luckily there are good doctors and associations that help advance heart health and technology that these procedures have a high success rate.
Flash forward 30+ years and I have had zero complications from my heart. I played soccer and lacrosse growing up, exercise regularly, and remain very active. This would not be possible if it wasn't for the doctors and other professionals out there that have put in the work and research to make this possible.
I am joining the heart walk because I have been the beneficator of years of hard work and research of others. I want to make sure that the next generations are able to have the same successful outcomes that I was able to benefit from.
If you have the means, any donation helps continue this work.