When I was born the kind doctors had let my parents know that I was born with a bicuspid Aortic valve, they had also let me know that my aortic tube was very narrow restricting blood flow into my lower half of my body. This caused me to have heart surgery at the young age of 11 months old. 

Even after the surgery I was left with some restrictions through the rest of my life, not allowing me to play curtain instruments and from being able to lift any kind of heavy weights in the gym. As I grew older I started to take a real interest into weight lifting, going to the gym 4-5 days a week. I had to adapt lifting smaller weights for more reps lowering the stress on my aorta valve. 

Through out my whole life I have had to go for monthly/yearly check ups allowing me to meet with my cardiologist to confirm that my heart is still functioning as it should. Even years later the hospital and doctors in B.C have made me feel cared about and treated me as if I was still  their top priority.   

Many Hospitals located in British Colombia Fail to help 80% of people facing cardiovascular issues, causing many loved ones having to leave their home and head down to bigger cities like Vancouver or Toronto. As the equipment required to perform some of the most complex surgeries on the most vital yet delicate organ in our body’s. Requiring a very skilled team of doctors to be able to properly perform these surgeries.  

With in effort to be able to help as many people as the government and health industry possible can they have made they resources accessible to people in big city’s with high population.  

With the baby boomer’s starting to get older more and more new heart related health problems are on the rise. It is very important to make sure that doctors are able to come up with solutions in order to solve the new upcoming problems 

Growing up being through the system at BC children’s hospital, then transferring over to the travelling cardiology team, they have really made me feel like family through my younger ages. 

Our mission with BCCR is to help other people have the same experience as me, with 1 in 100 people being born with heart defects its very important to make sure that not just people in the Vancouver area able to receive the right medical help that is required for them. 

With many people unaware of how many people suffer from cardiac problems we would like to share my story to show people that  proper cardiovascular research and equipment is at the expense for everyone that is in need.