Raising funds for congenital heart defect (CHD) research is not only critically important to all babies born with, and children and adults living with CHDs, it is also personally meaningful to us.

At our 20 week anatomy scan we received the news that our daughter Valentina Esther would be born with Dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries or d-TGA. This CHD is considered a Critical Congenital Heart Defect (CCHD) requiring immediate intervention after birth. Valentina had a procedure called a balloon septostomy hours after birth and open heart arterial switch at just 6 days old.

We are delighted to share that Valentina is now two years old and each day that goes by we are reminded that she is here by the Grace of God and all the medical advances and research that have occurred in the last 30 years.

We chose Team Brave Star in honor of her, our daughters name Valentina (meaning Brave) Esther (meaning Star).

By donating to help me reach my fundraising goal, you're helping to fund the most promising research into CDs - America's most common birth defect.

Together we can make a life-saving difference!

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page! I am participating in the Congenital Heart Walk to support the mission of The Children's Heart Foundation: to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects by funding the most promising research.