Every year, we join forces with It's My Heart New England to raise funds to educate, spread awareness, and support families affected by congenital heart defects (CHDs) in the New England area. We hope we can count on your generous support this year!

At first glance, you'd never guess everything that Avery has been through due to her congenital heart defects. More than many go through in their lifetimes and she is just 8years old.

When Avery was just 3 days old, she had a stroke that caused seizures. That stroke caused us to remain in the hospital where Drs detected that she was born with congenital heart disease. She was immediately intubated and sent Boston Children's Hospital. When she was 11 days old, she underwent her first life-saving open-heart surgery to repair coarctation of the aorta. Complications led to her coming back on ECMO(life support), prolonged intubation, eventual gtube placement, and finally home after 2 months in the hospital.

A month later- Avery was back in the hospital with paraflu and her Drs discovered her heart was working at less than 50% and that her aortic stenosis was extremely severe. Once recovered from the flu Avery had her second open-heart surgery - a neonatal Ross procedure. It was extremely risky as Averys heart was in very rough shape and though she didn’t look it, she was very sick. After a 14 hour surgery she once again came back on the ECMO machine. She was not doing well and we started all the paperwork to list her for transplant. We were approached about doing an experimental procedure on her that could help to save her life. The risks were minimal, so we agreed and Avery became the 4th patient ever to receive a mitochondrial transplantation. That procedure kick started the healing and helped to save Avery’s life when she was just 5mos old. In the years since, shes endured 4 additional open heart surgeries- to repair & replace her mitral valve & pacemaker, numerous cardiac catheterizations, several general surgeries, sees numerous specialists and endures daily shots, medications, and tube feedings. In true Avery fashion she has recovered from each of these procedures with a whole lot of sass, attitude, style, smiles, and giggles. She gives a mean stink eye to her medical team but is also quick to forgive them all and kills them with her personality. She handles her daily meds/feeds with ease and has never let it keep her down and gets through it all with a smile and is proud of her scars and who she is.

Despite all she's been through Avery is thriving! She is a happy, friendly, hilarious, and energetic girl. She loves dancing, school, playing outside, hanging with her friends, her family, Taylor Swift (yes she’s a swiftie), and just exploring the world around her and going on lots of adventures!

Please help us meet our fundraising goals so It's My Heart New England can continue supporting families affected by congenital heart defects like ours. Your donation makes a real difference!