New England Congenital Heart Walk

I want to express my heartfelt thanks for taking a moment to visit my fundraising page.

Sammie was born with half a heart, a condition known as hypoplastic left heart condition, or HLHS. He has undergone three open heart surgeries which saved his life as a new born and continue to allow him to live an amazing life of giggle, adventures, and curiosity.

But there is no cure for HLHS and Sam still only has half a heart, which means his body works harder to do everything. He is also at risk for stroke and cardiac arrest. We worry even when he gets a simple stomach bug, because dehydration increases these risks. He also lives with low blood oxygen, so he can get winded easily.

In fact, there is no cure for any CHD. Every person born with a heart defect will always require monitoring and remain at risk for complications. Some heart defects are so severe babies die at birth before any intervention can be performed. Others can be repaired so the heart looks like a regular heart.

Sam falls in the middle. Because he had no mitral valve, he was not eligable for the Bi-vent procedure that allows some HLHS babies to be fully repaired. Sam still has half a heart, and the search for groundbreaking treatments is vital to his on-going health and survival.

Sam is why we walk. And for all the "blue babies" repaired and paliated, still fighting and those who are at rest.

The congenital heart walk supports the Children's Heart Foundation which funds the research that will change the world for heart families like ours.

Please support us in any way you can!

With love from Sammie and his family,

Jessie, Nicolo, Samuel, and Russell.