Walking into our growing baby's 20 week ultrasound, Tony and I were excited to discover the gender of our baby.  We were also there to check our baby's growing heart.  My nephew, Jackson, now 12, was born with a severe heart defect, and we wanted to make sure, for peace of mind, that our baby's heart was healthy.  

A few minutes in to the ultrasound, the technician told us something was not quite right with our baby's heart, and with closer inspection, it was something called transposition of the great arteries, a completely different and unrelated heart defect, then what my nephew has.  We were also told the baby was a girl and her heart could be fixed.  

After we recieved the news, although we were so excited to meet our baby girl, we were scared as well.  Learning more about what her small heart would have to endure shortly after birth, had us worried about the outcome.  

We spent the next 5 months preparing for her birth and her open heart surgery with the Children's Heart Clinic, Children's Hospital, and the Mother Baby Center.  The second we stepped inside the Heart Clinic, we felt comforted and safe.  The confidence of everyone we talked to about our baby's surgery and care, made us feel confident as well.  We knew our baby's heart was in the best hands possible.

On January 28th, 2015, our baby girl was born.  Her name is Vera.  Vera means faith in Russian.  We had faith in her strength, faith in her heart, and faith in the doctor's who fixed her heart, and who will continue to help her heart heal and grow.  

Tony and I can never thank the Children's Heart Clinic enough for getting Vera home to us, her sister, her family, and her friends, but we can try.  The Heartbeat 5000 race, raising funds to help the clinic sustain it's presence, is a start.  Please think about donating and supporting this cause.  It really is dear to our hearts, and to so many others.  It's for Vera, for Jackson, and all the other babies who deserve the best chance for a healthy heart.

Thank you for your support. Peace, Alexandra Loosbrock