This year, we’re walking in the Children’s Heart Foundation Heart Walk as Team Chip, and we would absolutely love for you to be part of it!
We found out around 20 weeks that our baby boy had Tetralogy of Fallot, along with other pregnancy complications. Although we felt informed and prepared for our special heart guy, we had no idea just how much our world was about to change.
After Charles was born, he went straight to our Children’s Hospital NICU, where he spent 5 days. Shortly after, he was hospitalized for another 10 days battling omphalitis. Just shy of 3 months old, he had his first open-heart surgery. What we thought we were prepared for turned into a nightmare. Charles had a massive inflammatory response, healed extremely poorly, and ultimately needed a second open-heart surgery to redo his repairs.
Through it all, our little guy has shown us more strength and courage than we could have ever imagined. Now, after just celebrating his first birthday, Chip is doing well, thriving, and showing us every day just how incredibly strong he is. And somehow, after everything he has been through, he is still the happiest little guy.
We are incredibly thankful for the doctors, surgeons, nurses, researchers, scientists, and countless others who dedicate their lives to caring for these tiny hearts and finding better ways to treat congenital heart defects. The research and innovations supported by The Children’s Heart Foundation are helping change the lives and futures of children like Charles.
After everything our little heart warrior has been through this past year, walking and fundraising feels like a small way for us to give back and help create more hope for the heart babies who come after him.
We would be so honored and thankful to have you join Team Chip — whether you walk with us in DC this October, participate virtually, donate, share our team, or simply walk a mile around your neighborhood in honor of our little guy.
Every step and every bit of support means more to our family than you know.
This one is for Chip, and for all the little hearts fighting right alongside him. ❤️