We met Baby Tessa and her family at our Baltimore Heart Ball on Saturday February 23, 2019. Tessa was born on February 5, 2018 with multiple heart defects: LTGA, VSD, ASD, Pulmonary Atresia, Aortic Stenosis and a Hypoplastic Right Coronary Artery. She has spent most of her life in the hospital. She was listed as
In March of 1997, Beth Williamson Ayers gave birth to her son, Owen. Healthy and happy after a smooth pregnancy and delivery, Beth returned home with her son and visiting family members. Five days later, however, while spending time with her sister, Beth began experiencing shortness of breath. Immediately, her sister called Beth’s OB-GYN to
February 7 – February 14 is recognized annually as CHD Awareness Week. Congenital Heart Defects are the most common birth defects, nearly 40,000 babies are born each year in the U.S. with a CHD. Carter Bley was 1:100 babies born with a congenital heart defect. Carter was born with transposition of the great arteries with
Blair Sucher says she was destined to become a mother her whole life. On July 17, 2017, her and her husband welcomed Robert “Jones” Sucher into the world. They were overcome with joy and could not wait for the journey ahead. However, the next year would bring hardship as they found out about Jones’ congenital heart
Sylvia May recalls the day clearly. At 21-years-old, she woke up on a typical Friday morning and headed to her job with the Air Force working on fighter planes. Her day began with an inconvenient headache; however, this was the first sign of an impending stroke. Throughout the work day, Sylvia’s headache persisted. Along with
I never imagined the toll heart disease would have on my life. I had a stroke in 2000, a heart attack in 2004 and was in complete heart failure in 2013. Medical advances have helped to keep me alive for years, but it was a heart transplant in 2017 that has given me new life.
Richmond, VA – Three year old, Finn Blumenthal, will serve as a national ambassador for American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge! Since 2016, Finn and his mom, Kelly, have helped local schools raise funds for the American Heart Association. This year, the American Heart Association chose Finn to be a national ambassador for the program, now
Four months pregnant with her second child, Nykia Ward walked into her doctor’s office eager to learn the sex of her baby during her appointment that day. After the joy of discovering she was carrying a girl that she would name Kaycee, the doctor presented her with some concerning information. A bright spot appeared on
Midlands, SC – On Thursday, October 18, Lizzie Smith, Executive Assistant in the Midlands AHA office, was named 2018 Outstanding Rising Star by the Association of Fundraising Professionals SC, Central Carolina Chapter. Lizzie received this award because of her lifelong passion for promoting and supporting heart health. As a survivor of a congenital heart defect
Richmond, VA – On January 30, 2015, Jay Lambert was enjoying his Friday evening before planning on going into work the following morning. What Jay expected to be an ordinary night, however, resulted in Jay waking up three days later at a hospital. “My life was changed forever when I felt this excruciating pain in