My name is Shaira, and I am a Heart Angel mom to Maverick. Maverick was diagnosed with multiple complex single ventricle heart defects and heterotaxy which was detected at our 20- week ultrasound in 2021. At almost exactly 24 weeks, Maverick was born. He lived for exactly 10 minutes before passing away in my arms. After losing Maverick, I threw myself into research and stumbled upon The Children’s Heart Foundation. Approximately seven months after becoming a Heart Angel Mom, I participated in my first local heart walk. This is where I found a community with as much passion as I have for spreading awareness and funding research for CHD.

My husband and I have 2 heart healthy children, Maverick’s older sister and younger brother. We now have participated in two Heart Walks since Maverick’s passing as a family. The Children’s Heart Foundation has connected me to a community of Heart Families. It’s a bittersweet bond I share with this community but I am determined and grateful for the opportunity to help children born with CHD’s live long and fulfilling lives.