Blake is our 5 year old, energetic, adventurous son. Our 5k team was formed in his honor after he was diagnosed with three congenital heart defects when he was 9 months old. Blake has pulmonary atresia, a VSD, MAPCAs, and pulmonary stenosis. He's undergone two open heart surgeries, numerous heart catherization procedures, a couple of CTs, and countless echocardiograms and chest x-rays. He will require continued medical intervention his whole life as these defects are not something that can just be 'fixed' and forgotten about. While Blake is not a patient at Children's Heart Clinic, he was diagnosed there initially. Children's Heart Clinic is where we first experienced anything to do with Blake's heart defects and where we embarked on a whole new life in the medical world. Blake is a Mayo Clinic patient now, but after experiencing life in the cardiac ICU, we've learned that ANYTHING to improve the experience for parents and family as their children undergo such invasive, rigorous surgeries is a good cause. While we'd prefer to fundraise for the MN Congenital Heart Walk held in September, we would love any new members to join our team for the HeartBeat. The HeartBeat is a great family function to attend and the funds raised are used for a very good cause. Please consider joining our team or donating on our team's behalf for this event. Hope to see you/hear from you in September, too!
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions and please feel free to check out Blake's caringbridge page for more information: www.caringbridge.org/visit/blakerebelein