It is hard to believe it has been over 8 years since we learned our daughter would be born with a heart defect and were thrown down the scary road of learning everything we could about heart defects, surgeries, and all that comes along with being a heart warrior. Bella was born a fighter and made it through her surgery at only 5 days old with no issues. Just a few days later she was home with us! The next weeks and months were very hard, never knowing exactly how she was healing or if anything new would come up. To our amazement she just kept growing, healing and thriving!

Looking back now at all the fear and uncertainty, I wish we could have known how little her “defect” would affect her. She is a very active child, enjoying gymnastics, piano, swimming, girl scouts and playing soccer with her brother. Most people never know she had heart surgery unless we tell them. Although there is more uncertainty in the future we know that our fighter will take anything that comes her way and come out thriving! She is a princess with the heart of a warrior.