Our Motivation for Starting Play For A Heart

Our family has a passionate interest in Congenital Heart Disease because of our daughter, Libby. Libby was diagnosed with a very serious Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) called Truncus Arteriosus at 8 weeks old which required major reconstructive surgery. 

Over the years as the memories of Libby's first surgery fade, sometimes we forget just how serious congenital heart disease is and how many children it affects. When we would look at our own daughter, we would only see a little lady who is bright, full of life and very strong willed... aka "normal." However, this summer when she underwent her second surgery we learned that things inside her body were not as healthy as we thought. Her heart was severely enlarged due to all the extra work it had been performing just to do normal tasks and the valve that was inserted into her heart at 8 weeks was leaking far more than anyone had thought.

On June, 29th, after she underwent a seemingly perfect and successful repair, her heart threw everyone a terrifying curve ball. She went into complete cardiac arrest - her heart rate dropping to zero in a matter of seconds. Many at the hospital are deeming her the "miracle child" because if all things had not lined up like they did, she would not have made it. The heroics performed by Nurse Wayne, Dr. Mitchell and Mr. ECMO (ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) not only saved her life, but insured that it would be a life worth saving... ensuring that her brain and organs would fully recover.

While our efforts have always been to raise money to fund research, we now are narrowing our focus to support of the ECMO program at Children's (led by Dr. Shannon Buckvold, and started by our surgeon, Dr. Max Mitchell). Our hope is that by sharing our story, of ECMO protecting the life we hold most dear, it will enable them to raise additional funds to share their research, and broaden the exposure for ECMO usage across other hospitals to help other children. We have never been more motivated in our efforts. Please help us in our efforts by support Play for a Heart 2011.

Thank you in advance for your support.