Heart Strong

Through out my life my heart condition has taught me to be strong. When I was born the doctor and nurses discovered I had a murmur due to being born with a hole in my heart. I was diagnosed with a Ventricular Septal Defect and Tetralogy of Fallot. They gave the hole in my heart time to heal itself, but it never did. In July of 1991, I underwent open-heart surgery performed by Dr. Davis. He was a doctor very advanced for his time and I am forever grateful to him. I visited the heart clinic often for check-ups and then I was place under the care of Dr. Hugh Allen at Children’s.

At age 19, I was told my right ventricle was enlarged. I had to monitored regularly. At this time he encouraged me to exercise and I started to run on a regular basis. After I got married and cleared to have children, Dr. Allen referred me to the Adult Congenital Heart clinic to be placed under Dr. Curt Daniels. At age 23, I was told my right ventricle had not gotten any larger and surgery would not have to be performed at this time. Relieved, I decided to try and have children, with 30% chance of passing on the heart defect, I was a nervous wreck. I handled both pregnancies relatively well, but was put on bed rest the last few weeks as a precaution and minor complications.

After having children, running became my therapy and I decided to train for a half marathon. I was cleared by Dr. Daniels to do so. I successfully ran the half marathon. I realized regardless of my congenital heart disease, my heart was strong. After my check-up in 2015, I was asked to speak on a panel at Nationwide Children’s Hospital because I am successfully living life with a congenital heart defect. They told me I was an inspiration to those that have heart issues.

At my appointment in 2016, I asked if I could train for a marathon. I was cleared to do so and I will be attempting the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Marathon in 2016 to run for all the children who can’t run, I had been in there shoes at one point in my life. So, completing this race means so much to me. As I look in the mirror every day and see the scar on my chest, I thank God every day for giving me another chance at life and I will forever be Heart Strong.

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Through out my life my heart condition has taught me to be strong. When I was born the doctor and nurses discovered I had a murmur due to being born with a hole in my heart. I was diagnosed with a Ventricular Septal Defect and Tetralogy of Fallot. They gave the hole in my heart time to heal itself, but it never did. In July of 1991, I underwent open-heart surgery performed by Dr. Davis. He was a doctor very advanced for his time and I am forever grateful to him. I visited the heart clinic often for check-ups and then I was place under the care of Dr. Hugh Allen at Children’s.

At age 19, I was told my right ventricle was enlarged. I had to monitored regularly. At this time he encouraged me to exercise and I started to run on a regular basis. After I got married and cleared to have children, Dr. Allen referred me to the Adult Congenital Heart clinic to be placed under Dr. Curt Daniels. At age 23, I was told my right ventricle had not gotten any larger and surgery would not have to be performed at this time. Relieved, I decided to try and have children, with 30% chance of passing on the heart defect, I was a nervous wreck. I handled both pregnancies relatively well, but was put on bed rest the last few weeks as a precaution and minor complications.

After having children, running became my therapy and I decided to train for a half marathon. I was cleared by Dr. Daniels to do so. I successfully ran the half marathon. I realized regardless of my congenital heart disease, my heart was strong. After my check-up in 2015, I was asked to speak on a panel at Nationwide Children’s Hospital because I am successfully living life with a congenital heart defect. They told me I was an inspiration to those that have heart issues.

At my appointment in 2016, I asked if I could train for a marathon. I was cleared to do so and I will be attempting the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Marathon in 2016 to run for all the children who can’t run, I had been in there shoes at one point in my life. So, completing this race means so much to me. As I look in the mirror every day and see the scar on my chest, I thank God every day for giving me another chance at life and I will forever be Heart Strong.

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