Serafina is a very special girl with a very special heart. Before she was born, my wife and I found out she had a very rare heart condition, making her future very uncertain. After she was born in March 2024, she was immediately taken to a cardiac ICU, where she spent the next 36 days under close monitoring. Thankfully, she went home safely, with a heart surgery being a necessary plan for the future. However, this past summer, Serafina was suddenly hospitalized and sent to the operating room for emergent open heart surgery. After some complications during her recovery, less than a month later she went back in for another heart surgery. After spending a total of 40 days in the hospital, Serafina finally came home. Her strength and bravery inspired my family and I.  Since Serafina was born, she has always been a fighter.  We are inspired by her, and grateful for all of the wonderful medical professionals that helped her get better. We would like to give back in some way and raise awareness for children with heart disease. 

As an avid runner and triathlete, I thought that these events would be a great platform to start helping.  I will be competing in races in Serafina’s honor, and put meaning into the miles by raising money for the Children’s Heart Foundation for every mile I complete. I will be participating in the Ironman 70.3 on September 20, the longest race I have ever done.  By dedicating every mile to her and those affected by rare heart conditions, it is our hope to raise awareness and help all those affected by congenital heart disease.