This year's heart ambassador highlights Wyatt and his family's struggle through congenital heart defect and it's complications.
"When I was 12 weeks pregnant we learned there was something wrong with our baby. They couldn't tell us what yet,
but they assured us he wouldn't survive pregnancy. I remember being in complete disbelief. There was no way they were right!
I had just watched my active little baby moving and waving on the ultrasound. There was a mistake. With each follow up appointment
I kept waiting for them to tell me, 'Just kidding. We made a mistake. He is healthy and will be just fine.' Although they never did tell
me that, at 18 weeks they confirmed he had Hypo-plastic Left Heart Syndrome and would need his first open heart surgery at about five
days old. I was shocked, heartbroken, and an emotional mess. Some days were optimistic while many others were filled with sadness,
fear, and a lot of crying. WE decided to name our son Wyatt because it means "little warrior", perfect for our little fighter. Wyatt was
so active my entire pregnancy. He was always rolling, punching, and kicking. It was his way of telling me to hold on to hope. He was
already so strong and was ready to fight." ~ Monica, Wyatt's mother
1 in 100 children are born with congenital heart defect. It is the most common birth defect. Many children who are born with a
heart defect have to struggle to live long healthy lives. The American Heart Association helps fund research on congenital heart defects.
We are only able to fund research and education because of the generosity of our donors.
Together, we can change lives and saves lives! Click here to make your life-saving gift today.
Here are a few ways your donation dollars are used:
$500: Teaches more than 2,500 children how to avoid obesity and live longer, stronger lives through our nutrition and exercise educational materials.
$1,000: Mobilizes 2,000 women with our Go Red for Women movement and empowers them to take charge of their heart health with a personal record tracker and other health information.
$5,000: Helps 9,000 individuals get active using online tools such as the Start! Walking Programs Tracker, which records physical activity.
