I was born in November 2003 at the Coombe Hospital. There a paediatric doctor detected a heart murmur. My parents were told that I had a mild heart murmur and that it would be checked further in CHI. When I was about 3 months old I got my 1st appointment to attend the Cardiac Unit in CHI. There they discovered I had a Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Dialation of the Aortic Root, Ascending Root and Aortic Stenosis. I didn't understand for many years what was wrong with me, all I knew was that I couldn't do contact sport. My main hobby and activity is Irish Dancing and I don't know what I would do if I couldn't dance, because of the fitness level required for Irish Dancing the doctors said my training would assist my cardiac fitness and overall health.                                                              

As I got older, my heart defect got worse it started at mild, then mild-moderate. It then got to the stage that I needed surgery. My first procedure was a keyhole surgery which was a balloon dialation. This was done just before I started secondary school. After that,  I had to take two tablets daily. I didn't like taking tablets but I took them to keep me well. 

After this surgery my checkups became more frequent. The doctors always said I would need Open Heart Sugery one day, hopefully when I get to my late teenage years and I did! 

I wanted to have my surgery in CHI at Crumlin. I spoke with the physiologist many times prior to the surgery and they helped me to understand why I was so anxious and that it was ok to be nervous but the surgery was needed. I was very lucky to have a CNS nurse, Yvonne was amazing not only to me but my family too.

On the 4th of January, prior to being admitted I had to take a Covid test. I was admitted the next day to prepare for my surgery. My Mum was allowed to stay with me throughout the entire time I was in hospital. On the morning of the surgery my dad was allowed to attend the hospital to see me and to be there for my mum through the day. I was able to walk to the surgery theatre with my mum and my CNS nurse, at 8.45am I was put asleep. I was in the ICU at 4.30pm and I could hear my mum talking to me. I knew when I heard her voice, I had survived my surgery!

I only had to spend one night in ICU and this was encouraging as we had been told I might be there up to four nights. I was then moved to the Children's Heart Centre Ward, here we had a room where my mum could also stay. I was here for five nights and I was then discharged, the doctors where very happy with my progress and recovery after major heart surgery.

Now I can keep dancing, lift weights and fly to New York, no matter what hurdles are placed in front of us, sometimes we need to jump that fence to get to the finish line. 

I have decided to do this fundraiser as the care I was given in the CHC was amazing and the staff always went above and beyond this make the stay as easy as possible. 

Please Support My 150km all proceeds raised are going to Children's Heart Centre @ Crumlin!