My daughter Violet was officially diagnosed with Tetrology of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia and MAPCAs at birth. Within hours of giving birth to her we were told by doctors "to prepare for the most difficult year of our lives." And boy were they correct. Becoming a mother and having Violet has been the most amazing blessing in mine and my husband's life. But having a heart baby is incredibly difficult. No one ever imagines what life will look like when you have a sick child. We have been blessed to receive tremendous amounts of support from our friends and family thorughout our journey. Our daughter underwent a full heart repair, called a unifocalization, back in December of 2025. While sitting bedside with her in the hospital thinking how amazing and resilient she was, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more I could be doing for the CHD community. I happened to be doom scrolling on the internet and came across TONS of videos showcasing people running the NYC marathon. It brought tears to my eyes seeing all the joy and euphoria of the runners and spectators. I thought about how awesome it would be to run, but I myself am not really a runner so it was a pipe dream at best. Fast forward some time and I see the the CHF posted they were taking applications for runners to be on their team for the NYC marathon. I opened the appicaiton immediately and applied. I figured it was a long shot but wow wouldn't it just be an amazing opportunity to raise money for a foundation that has so deeply impacted our lives? Because there was a point in time when Violet's condition had no solution or surgical plan for remedy. But then Dr. Frank Hanley decided that outcome for children was unacceptable. He wanted to help kids and babies like my daughter. So he pioneered a surgery that has saved SO many lives simililar to hers. I know that there are a vast number of heart defects affecting the children of our world. 1 in 100 babies will be diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. If I can raise money that could potentially improve the lives of children due to research efforts, I could think of nothing more important. Heart kids are more resilient and strong than ANY adult I have ever met. I would do anything to support them, their happiness, and their health. THANK YOU for taking the time to read about how my family has been impacted. And if you are able to donate, know that it means the world to me and millions of other affected by CHD.