❤️ Hi! My name is Lauren and I’m 36 years old. I was born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) called: Tricuspid Atresia, Hypoplastic Right Ventricle (missing my right ventricle), a large VSD, & multiple muscular ASDs. I wasn’t diagnosed until 11 weeks old and in heart failure. I’ve had 3 open hearts so far in my life: the PA Banding at 5 months old, the Fontan with Glenn at 27 months old, and the Fontan Revision with a Maze procedure, right atrium reduction, an artery repaired, and pacemaker implanted at age 34. I’ve also had multiple heart caths (including a balloon atrial septostomy upon diagnosis), 2 cardiac ablations, hundreds of tests, hundreds of blood draws, and so on. I try to be as proactive and knowledgeable about my CHD as my parents were when I was young. Yes this is a lifelong condition that definitely isn’t always easy, but I’ve lived and continue to live such a full wonderful life despite whatever challenges my “half a heart” throws my way. Growing up I played piano, did family theater, was in the Girls Scouts for awhile, played bowling & earned my high school varsity letter in bowling, babysat a lot in high school & college, etc. I graduated college with a BA in psychology, I’m a homeowner, I’ve been married to an amazing man willing to walk this lifelong CHD journey with me for 12 years now (together 15 years), I’m a homemaker (which I love), been sharing my life with CHD on and off line for 16 years now, and so much more. I’m so grateful for my life and the blessings in it even during tough times. I cherish everyday I’m given as no one knows what tomorrow holds, heart healthy or not. Yet I stay hopeful about the future as there is LOTS of hope! ❤️