Courage Classic 2024!
Hi all! It's Courage Classic time again, and this year I'm honored to ride in memory of a precious Cardiac Warrior angel of our Heart Institute, Camila.
Camila Gonzalez Itriago made her entrance to this world in 2018 as the first-born to Rei and Eva. Camila's condition was unknown to her parents during pregnancy and shortly after she came to the world, they received news that Camila had been born with DiGeorge Syndrome, also known as 22q.11.2 deletion syndrome. She was also diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia and MAPCAS.
After Camila's loss her parents are dedicated to keep honoring her memory and support other parents who have lost children. Having a medically complex child was a life changing experience for this family and by keeping Camila's memory and story alive they strive to raise awareness about the importance of advocacy for medically complex children and also providing support for bereaved parents during the grief journey. Rei and Eva were born and raised in Venezuela and through Camila's legacy many contributions have been made in the last five years to help save and educate underserved medically complex children and families in Venezuela. If you want to learn more about their story visit @hopeforcamila on instagram.
25% of babies born with critical congenital heart defects do not yet live to see their 1st birthday. This is one reason continued funding for our Heart Institute remains so vitally important to support ongoing research, medical advancements, and continued specialized treatments.
As always, I'll also ride with gratitude for the amazing cardiac specialists and compassionate Heart Institute nurses who took such good care of my daughter, Whitney, and our whole family during a harrowing few years when she developed viral myocarditis (from H1N1) and serious complications (including a heart rhythm disorder- incessant ectopic atrial tachycardia).
Please consider supporting my ride to join our critical fundraising efforts this year. Your donation is tax deductible and will directly help to provide lifesaving care for children at the region's only nonprofit pediatric hospital. And, thanks for sending positive thoughts and prayers our way on July 20-21 for safe and meaningful rides!
Thank you,
Kari
