Every heart has a story. This is ours. Being a heart mom is something I never imagined I would be. When you become a mother, you dream of your children growing up, running around, laughing, making memories, and living a long, healthy life. You never imagine having to worry about their little hearts, hospital visits, procedures, or the things that most parents never have to think twice about. But sometimes, life takes you down a path you never expected, and you learn just how strong a little heart can be. My son was born with a congenital heart defect called TAPVR (Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return). From the beginning, his journey has been one that has tested me in ways I could never fully explain. Watching your child face something so serious is a feeling no parent should ever have to experience. There are fears that stay with you, prayers that come straight from the deepest part of your heart, and moments that change you forever. As his mom, I would take every fear, every worry, every difficult moment, and every ounce of pain away from him if I could. I would trade places with him in a heartbeat. But when you can't take away their battles, you learn to stand beside them, fight for them, pray over them, and love them through every single moment. Aphinn has taught me that strength doesn't always come in big packages. Sometimes, the strongest fighters are the tiniest ones. ❤️ Being a heart mom means carrying a love that is difficult to put into words. It means celebrating milestones that others might take for granted. It means learning medical terms you never thought you would need to know, holding your breath during appointments, finding courage when you're terrified, and trusting God even when your heart is full of questions. It means smiling for your baby while silently praying everything will be okay. It means being grateful for every little victory and realizing just how precious every single day truly is. Our journey doesn't just belong to us. It is part of a much bigger community of heart warriors and heart families. That is why I am participating in the 2026 San Antonio Congenital Heart Walk on October 25th. I am walking for my son, for the little fighters who have faced more in their first years of life than some people face in a lifetime, for the parents who have spent nights praying beside hospital beds, and for the families who know what it feels like to have their entire world revolve around a little heartbeat. I am walking for the heart babies who are still fighting, the children growing stronger every day, the adults living with congenital heart defects, and the families who have experienced heartbreaking loss. I am walking for the parents who understand that behind every heart warrior is a story of courage, sacrifice, faith, and unconditional love. I want to help spread awareness because congenital heart defects are something every person should know about. These little hearts deserve attention, research, support, and hope. No family should ever feel alone when facing a congenital heart diagnosis. As a mom, my son will always be one of my greatest reasons to keep going. His journey has changed the way I see life, strengthened my faith, and shown me that even in our scariest moments, there is still room for hope. My prayer is that one day, every heart family will have more answers, more support, better treatments, and a little less fear. If you are able to donate, please know that every contribution, no matter the amount, makes a difference. If you cannot donate, sharing this page, spreading awareness, and keeping our heart warriors in your prayers means just as much to us. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read our story, support this cause, and stand with families like ours. Thank you for helping us turn our journey into something that can bring hope to others. I will forever be proud to be his mama, proud to stand beside him, and proud to walk for a cause that means so much to our family. I walk for my son. I walk for his heart. I walk for every heart warrior. And I walk with hope for a future where every little heart has a fighting chance. ❤️? Small hearts. Big battles. Unbreakable love. With love, A proud heart mom❤️