I am so excited for my fifth year at the Courage Classic riding for the Cardiac Climbers. Although I'm no longer working on the Cardiac Unit and work in the emergency department, I'm forever a cardiac peds nurse at heart and will be dedicating my ride to Elias!
" At 22 weeks gestation, Elias Lukas was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. My fiancé & I had to relocate to Denver, as our home state of New Mexico informed us no one in our state would be able to help our baby based on his diagnosis. It was no question we would head to Denver. Elias Lukas was born on November 21st, 2023. A week into his life, he underwent his Norwood operation and it was a success. We were discharged 4 weeks after, where we had to stay local in Denver for appointments & for the following operation, the Glenn. Two months after discharge, Elias gained a tricuspid valve leak that became severe. The valve leak needed to be repaired prior to the second stage surgery of the Glenn. On March 15th, 2024, Elias underwent a 10 hour open heart operation of repairing his valve leak. A week later, the leak occurred again, which the repair failed. The valve leak does not allow Elias to be a candidate for the Glenn. As of March 29th, Elias is listed 1a on the transplant list for his gift of a donor heart. He will remain inpatient till he receives his gift. We can’t wait for him to receive his gift and to be able to take him home to New Mexico, where all his family awaits to meet him! Elias is now 5 months old & continues to be a happy, strong, and brave lil baby through it all!"
I ride and fundraise to help raise money for the amazing cardiac patients I have the honor of taking care of at Children's Hospital Colorado.
