It's hard to believe that Charlie will be finishing third grade in just a few weeks. It's been an amazing year of growth and development, but it was a challenge to get here. As many of you remember, Charlie was diagnosed in utero with a complex congenital heart defect, and has already undergone two open heart surgeries, three hospital stays, and countless EKGs and Echocardiograms. He is thriving now, with no limitations. And while much of this success is due to his fighting spirit and strength, it is also due to our incredible medical team at Lurie's Children's Hospital, and because of the amazing research supported by the Children's Heart Foundation (CHF).

My family and I have joined CHF for their annual Congenital Heart Walk each year, and we are walking again with Charlie to raise awareness and funding for The Children's Heart Foundation, the leading organization dedicated to funding congenital heart defect (CHD) research.

CHD's are the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 40,000 babies each year. 25% of these children, including Charlie, have a critical CHD and require surgery or other interventions to survive. Research into CHDs is critical in improving the quality of life for Charlie, and the millions of other children and adults in the U.S. and around the world living with CHDs.

 I would like to ask you to consider donating to our team, Charlie's Heart Heroes, this year to help fund this critical research.  If you are feeling extra geneerous, please share this with others in your networks as well.  We will be walking on June 7 to help heart warriors live longer, healthier lives.

Thank you,
Sarah (Aunt of Heat Warrior Charlie)