There are 19 days until the Nasvhille Heart Walk. So far we've raised $8,163, but I need your help to reach my $10,000 fundraising goal.
As you may know, our son Max was born with complete congenital heart block and had open chest surgery at 7 days old to have a pacemaker implanted. Max celebrated his 3rd birthday in July and is doing incredibly well. I am participating in the 2014 Nashville Heart Walk on 10/4/2014 and raising funds to support the American Heart Association and eradicate heart disease in our community. Please support my fundraising efforts with a contribution! We would also love for you to join us at the walk....Max will be there. Please let us know if you would like to walk with us; it's a lot of fun!
Last year's walk was a humbling experience for us. Through your generocity, our team raised over $10,000. Amy, Max and I can't thank you enough for your continuous support and are looking forward to the walk again this year.
Max's Story:
After 28 weeks of what seemed to be a perfectly normal pregnancy, my wife Amy and I hit a roadblock. We went in for a routine ultrasound and discovered that Max's heart rate was in the 60's, when it should be in the 150's range. After an initial diagnosis of 2nd degree heart block with the potential to treat and reverse the damage through steroids, we were once again floored a week later with the news that Max was in complete heart block. This added a 30% mortality rate and all but guaranteed a pacemaker as our only option. Max was delivered at roughly 38 weeks at 5 lbs, 9 ozs. The delivery went well and 7 days later, Max had a 45 minute surgery at Vandy to implant the smallest pacemaker in the world in his abdomen. Surgery went perfectly and we took the little guy home 24 hours later.
Today, we continue to monitor Max through a machine at home every month and take him to his cardiologist at Vandy every year. He is a perfectly normal, healthy 3-year-old today, but he will continue to have surgeries to replace the battery and upgrade the pacemaker over time. Max had surgery to replace his first pacemaker as well as the lead a month ago, and is now doing well. We are so thankful for the technology that's in place today that allows a 7-day-old baby to even have a pacemaker and then to be able to monitor that pacemaker at home. 35 years ago this would not have been possible, and our little guy might not have survived. Amy and I are both passionate about heart research as we are directly benefiting from the results of the research to date.
Please support Max, Amy and I with a donation today and come join us on October 4 to walk in support of the American Heart Association's work to fund groundbreaking heart and stroke research.
Heart disease and stroke impact all of us, but because of events like Heart Walk we can make a difference. Through education and research the American Heart Association is working to build healthier lives. Will you support us?
Thank you, in advance, for your donation and support!
Tyler and Amy Muesch
Click this link to go directly to my personal fundraising page where you can give a secure online donation.
Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support American Heart Association - Nashville, TN
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