Stella endured her first open heart surgery at 7 weeks old. Barely 11 lbs., with a heart the size of a walnut, according to her surgeon. They patched a hole and replaced a valve with a scrap of material smaller than a penny.
1 in 100 kids is born with a heart defect. Our special kiddos happen to be 2 of those heart warriors. Our Stella was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a disorder that forces her heart to work harder than it should, and requires regular testing, catheterizations, and surgery. (Her little brother James was born with a less severe issue, a vascular ring and aortic arch.)
Stella was lucky enough to receive her latest interventions via catheterizations--but we want to support research to continue improving quality of life and outcomes for kids with CHD. On behalf of Stella, James, and all the kids with CHD, please contribute what you can to advance the care and treatment of heart disease.