I want to express my heartfelt thanks for taking a moment to visit my fundraising page and supporting children wiht CHDs like our Brayve Brayden.

This year, I'm walking with extra purpose as The Children's Heart Foundation celebrates 30 incredible years of funding research that saves lives and changes futures. My commitment to making a difference has led me to participate in the Congenital Heart Walk, an event that carries immense significance for me—especially knowing that for three decades, CHF has been the leading force behind the treatments and surgical advances that help children with congenital heart defects thrive.

It's not just a walk; it's a stride toward the next 30 years of hope. This endeavor is all about supporting The Children's Heart Foundation's crucial mission—advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects through groundbreaking research that improves survival rates, reduces complications, and helps Heart Warriors celebrate more birthdays than ever before.

Brayden is 1 of those extra special kiddos born with a CHD, specifically Tetralogy of Fallot. After a completely uneventful pregnancy with "normal" ultrasounds, our guy joined our family at 37 weeks on September 17, 2020 and was full of surprises from the get go. Along with his CHD, Brayden had an imperforate anus (he was born without a booty hole), hydronephrosis of his left kidney, and a duplicated urethra.

We soon found out that he had vACteRl association, which is a disorder that affects many body systems. VACTERL stands for vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities. People diagnosed with VACTERL association typically have at least three of these characteristic features. 

Thankfully, we have been blessed to live so close to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH where the heart center, colorectal center and urology centers are phenomenal and have literally saved our buddy's life on quite a few occasions. Bray has had 8 surgeries to date, and had his open heart surgery at just 8 weeks old to repair his CHD.

Raising funds for congenital heart defect (CHD) research is not only critically important to all babies born with, and children and adults living with CHDs, it is also incredibly important to our family. By donating to help me reach my fundraising goal, you’re helping to fund the most promising research into CHDs - America’s most common birth defect.

I warmly invite you to become a part of this milestone journey by supporting my fundraising efforts. Together, we can raise the funds essential to continue the life-saving research that turns heartbreak into hope. Your contribution holds immeasurable value to me and to every family who needs CHF's support.

Thank you for your generosity, and for standing beside me in this mission. Your support means the world.