My name is Marissa, and I am a Heart Angel mom to Liam. Liam was born in July 2016 with HLHS, which was detected on our 20-week ultrasound. We were able to snuggle Liam for 12 days but when he underwent his first surgery, his heart wasn’t strong enough to make it, and he gained his angel wings. In the weeks after his passing, I connected with The Children’s Heart Foundation and participated in the local walk. That is where my journey with the foundation began, and I am now currently the Portland walk chair. My husband and I have 3 heart-healthy children now and look forward to “The Heart Walk” as the kids call it each year.

The foundation has allowed me to meet many amazing families and share my son's story, and I am so grateful for the work that is being done to better and extend the lives of children born with CHD’s.