At the age of 37, I was diagnosed with a congenital
heart defect (“CHD”) called Coarctation of the Aorta. I remember vividly sitting in the hospital early one morning being told I would need major surgery, likely open heart surgery, to repair the defect in my aorta before it developed into a life-threatening issue. I tried to digest the news as I rushed out of the hospital to go pick up my kids and take them to school. Looking into their faces, smiling and blinking back fear, I knew that I would do anything I could to hold on to the most precious job of my life - being their mother. And I was grateful for the research and medical technologies that would soon save my life.
Due to
improvements in screening and diagnostic technology, experts believe more
adults are now living with undiagnosed CHDs than children. All CHD patients - children and adults - need ongoing health care services throughout the span of their lives, many
requiring numerous surgeries. Thankfully, my CHD was such that it could
be repaired through an aortic stent procedure performed by the physicians at
the Adult Congenital Heart program at Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia. My ongoing care, and the screenings for my daughters, have
been provided by Dr. Fred Arensman and his colleagues at Pediatric HeartCare
Partners.
Every year since my diagnosis, I have committed to efforts to raise awareness and funds for heart health research and education. My committment this year is to serve as a “Queen of Hearts” for the AHA. My fundraising this year is dedicated to other CHD
patients and their parents (thinking especially of Noah, Dalton, and Theo),
for my beautiful mother-in-law Patti and her very special heart, and in memory of a dear colleague who lost her life
as a result of a heart attack.
Won't you please join me in supporting the American Heart Association? You or your company can: (1) buy tickets or a table to the Heart Ball in my name; (2) make a tax-deductible donation to the American Heart Association in my name; (3) become a sponsor of the Heart Ball for some extra acknowledgement; (4) volunteer your time to one of the many wonderful American Heart Association programs or events; or (5) ALL OF THE ABOVE! Thank you, thank you for your support of this worthy cause and for the research and education that goes into making procedures like the one I had to repair my CHD possible.
