It's hard to believe it was over 15 years ago, but it feels like yesterday. Our daughter, Morgan, was two weeks old, and we were told she had a heart murmur. She was referred to a wonderful cardiologist  who  met Morgan when she was two months old. As Morgan grew, she was frail, tired and failing to thrive. At two and a half, the was only 17 pounds. She had multiple atrial septal defects (ASDs) in her heart. On March 1, 2007, Dr. Thompson told us the words we had always dreaded, we need to fix Morgan's heart. We prayed and prayed and God was faithful. Our cardiologist and his team fixed Morgan's heart. When Morgan woke up from her heart surgery, she looked up at me and said "Mama, God fixed my heart." She was only 2 years old and I will never forget those words.

Because of Morgan's history, our son, Michael, was monitored for heart problems, too, and was diagnosed as well with an ASD even though there was less than a 4% chance he would have the same issues. In April 2009, we heard the dreaded words again. At Michael's cardiologist check up, I knew the concerned expression on the doctor's face wasn't good. He put his arm around me and said, "I'm so sorry. Michael needs his heart fixed, too." Once again the rug was pulled out from under us. It's at those times that we have to face our worst fears and put our flight in God. Once again, God used Dr. Thompson to heal our child. When the doctors went in and looked at his heart, the heart and arteries were enlarged three times the size because of the volume of blood his body was trying to pump. 

Today, we are so blessed to have two healthy teenagers. 

As a mom of two children born with Congenital Heart Defects, I know first hand how important research and awareness is for heart health.   I am grateful to the AHA, my friends at Inova Pediatric Cardiology and the grace of God for healing my kids and seeing them grow. Please donate to help others like them. Go Red is a leadership committee I am thankful to serve on as it brings awareness and research to women's heart disease and AHA helps so many other families just like mine.