Join Us in Giving Back to UCSF Children's Hospital

Freshman year of high school started like any other—new classes, new friends, and the excitement of beginning a new chapter. I was getting ready to join some school activities, so I went in for a physical for baseball tryouts. That’s when my doctor heard something unexpected: a heart murmur. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but my doctor insisted on further tests just to be safe.

Those tests revealed something I never saw coming—I had an atrial septal defect (ASD), a hole in my heart that had been there since birth. I was shocked. How could I have gone my whole life without knowing? My doctor explained that ASDs sometimes go undetected until adolescence or adulthood and that I needed surgery to repair it before it caused long-term complications.

The news was overwhelming, but we were fortunate to find UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, where I received world-class care. Their pediatric cardiology team guided us through every step of the process, answering all our questions and making me feel as prepared as possible. A few months into my freshman year, I underwent open-heart surgery to close the hole. It was scary, but the kindness and expertise of the UCSF team gave me the courage to face it. The surgery was a success, and my recovery went better than I could have imagined.

That’s why I’ve started this fundraiser: to give back to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and help ensure other kids like me get the care they need. Every dollar raised will support life-changing procedures, state-of-the-art technology, and the compassionate team that makes it all possible. Together, we can make a difference for countless families.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me and for supporting a cause that’s so close to my heart. ❤️