The Heart Walk

Yesterday the four MD Touseys joined in our first walk to raise money for congenital heart defects.

The money goes to support research which is still very lacking in some ways in terms of diagnosing and treating CHDs. CHDs kill more babies and children every year than all childhood cancers combined, but there is still such a lack of funding for CHDs. There is no St. Jude’s for CHDs.

I was reminded of the importance of funding and research yesterday as two moms stood at the microphone and shared how their babies had died at 12 days old and 28 days old, respectively, both from HLHS.

I admired their strength so much. I wondered if I would want to be anywhere near a heart walk, around all the other parents who got to keep their children. I hope I would be like them, working through my grief to make sure no other mama had to pick up a button like this at a heart walk.

I am so thankful that we only had to pick up an “I am a CHD survivor” button for our little warrior princess.

She wears it well.

Thank you all so much for giving. You don’t know how much it means to me that you would give your money to help fund research for CHDs. Tim and I are just overwhelmed at the giving.

We ended up with $2,009 for Team Charlotte, and I was the second-highest overall individual fundraiser. That was no credit to me; it was all because of you.  All total, the DC Heart Walk raised close to $67,000 for research! Y’all, that is amazing.

A fun part of the day was meeting some other heart moms that I had only “met” online before. We were supposed to be walking with my friend Bethany and her family, but her baby boy was sick. We did get to meet up with her girls and her mom, and I always love it when our kids get together.

I will never be able to thank you enough. We are beyond blessed by your generosity and love.