Each year, we raise funds in honor of my son, Mason, who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)—a condition where the left ventricle is underdeveloped or missing. I also dedicate it to all children born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), whose lives depend on continued medical advancements and support.

Mason’s diagnosis came early in my pregnancy, largely because I was 41 and receiving additional prenatal care due to my age. That led us to meet his cardiologist, who referred us to Boston Children’s Hospital. There, Mason underwent a then-relatively new procedure called a balloon valvuloplasty while he was still in utero. At the time, he was only the 110th patient to have this procedure done at Boston. Although it didn’t prevent HLHS, we believe—with gratitude to God and the incredible strides in medicine—that it gave Mason a vital head start.

After birth, Mason endured his first open-heart surgery at just 5 days old, followed by additional surgeries at 3.25 and 4 years of age. These operations aimed to reconstruct his heart’s anatomy so that the right side could function as both ventricles. During his final surgery, Mason suffered two watershed strokes. And yet, through divine grace and the dedication of a remarkable physical therapist, he has regained almost everything that was lost.

Despite stories like Mason's, CHD research remains critically underfunded—even though CHD is one of the leading causes of childhood death. We must raise both awareness and resources to drive the development of new treatments, surgical techniques, devices, and medications that can extend and improve the lives of these brave children.

For Mason, the next major hurdle may one day be a heart transplant—but we pray that day is many, many years away. In the meantime, we fight on—for him and for every child living with CHD.