The American Heart Association will host their annual Beaver Butler Counties Heart Ball Saturday in Cranberry Township and a Zelienople family will play a special role in the event.
During Jen Spickle’s 19-week ultrasound, a heart defect was detected on her baby boy, Jonah.
“Immediately after birth, Jonah had his first procedure. And then, he had his first open-heart surgery at just 17 days old,” Spickle explained.
After a few complications, Jonah is now doing great…he turned one in September and will live a normal life.
Jen and her husband will participate in Saturday’s Heart Ball & share their story…as they hope to help make an impact on those there.
“We really believe we can help spread awareness and educate people on cardiovascular disease,” she said. “We need to continue to do research and find way to help these little guys heal and move forward and have lives filled with joy and hope.”
According to the American Heart Association, about 40,000 children in the United States are born with a heart defect every year. And, more than 85 million Americans are fighting cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Donations allow the association to fund more research than nay organization outside the federal government for new research projects, education programs advocacy and more efforts to address heart disease and stroke.
The American Heart Association is currently funding $8.5 million worth of researches in the greater Pittsburgh region.
