* Stephanie’s Journey: A True Fighter’s Story *

My daughter, Stephanie, was born with Tetralogy of Fallot—a rare condition caused by a combination of four heart defects present at birth. This condition allows oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and into the rest of the body.

Stephanie has endured more than most people face in a lifetime. She has had three open-heart surgeries:

❤️ At 17 months old – her very first surgery, a terrifying time for her father, me, and our family.
❤️ At 15 years old – a complex valve replacement that required a hospital readmission due to an adverse medication reaction. Not only was she devastated, but we also had to discard $7,000 worth of medication.
❤️ At 24 years old – a third surgery after a failed Melody valve replacement.

Despite these challenges, Stephanie never gave up. Even after her last surgery, when she continued to experience extreme exhaustion and little improvement, she remained strong. Eventually, with a new doctor, we learned what we had suspected: the surgery hadn’t worked as planned, and she is back in heart failure.

✨ As of now, things remain stable. Stephanie is a fighter, and she continues to inspire us every day with her strength, resilience, and courage.

We are incredibly proud of her journey, and we know her story can offer hope to others navigating a similar path. ?

I warmly invite you to become a part of this significant journey by supporting our fundraising efforts. Together, we can raise the funds essential to drive forward life-saving research. Your contribution holds immeasurable value to me.

Thank you for your generosity and for standing beside us in this mission. Your support means the world to everyone with congenital heart challenges.