A MESSAGE FROM NYC Marathon for Harboring Hearts
For the entirety of my life, I have known I wanted to work in the realm of healthcare. My father is a two time kidney donor recipient who has suffered from chronic illness for as long as I can remember. I was convinced I wanted to be a doctor until I had spent some time volunteering at a local hospital in my town. I was surprised to observe that many of the tasks I had formerly believed were carried out by the medical team were performed by the nurses. The doctors conducted rounds every few hours, but the nurses were intimately involved in caring for the patient's every need. Fast forward to this past May after graduating from Boston College, I landed my dream job as a Registered Nurse on an Inpatient Pediatric Cardiology-Neurology floor at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in NYC. Little did I know the profound impact this job would have on centering my desire to help the most vulnerable population of patients and their families maintain a sense of health, wellness, and stability all while battling complex medical conditions.
The mission of Harboring Hearts aligns directly with my goal as a pediatric cardiac nurse. It relies on the foundational understanding that pediatric patients with cardiac illnesses that end up requiring heart transplants do not solely impact the child, but the whole family. And beyond physical wellbeing, we must take a holistic approach to each patient and their family by attending to their emotional and spiritual health as well. Resources provided by organizations like the Harboring Hearts allow families of heart transplant candidates to feel supported and maintain a sense of community at what could be some of the most challenging moments in their families' lives. From financial support to sibling support, these are the resources that a hospital often lacks but make all the difference in a families' battle. Many of the patients and families I care for everyday at work come from extremely diverse and oftentimes low income backgrounds. On top of their child being sick, they are battling a variety of other challenges from minor things such as a language barrier to more major issues like concern over whether they can financially support their families. I am running the NYC Marathon for Harboring Hearts because I hope that I can increase the amount of resources that this foundation can provide to my patients and families who are struggling.
Movement has always been a way I have fostered joy in my life. From growing up playing team sports to being captain of my collegiate club water polo team, I know exercise can bring people together toward a common goal. I’m so excited to run the 2024 NYC Marathon for the Harboring Hearts Foundation. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to challenge my body, mind, and heart all while raising money to make a difference in the lives of children and families battling complex cardiac conditions. Thank you everyone for your support! Together, we will give hope to hearts everywhere!
