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This spring, 13-month-old congenital heart defect survivor Olivia Patrice Callahan, of Harding, will represent all local heart disease and stroke survivors as the child chair for the 2015 Northeast PA Heart Walks, sponsored locally by the Cross Valley Federal Credit Union.
The first walk will be held Saturday, April 25 at Nay Aug Park in Scranton and the second walk will be held on Saturday, May 30 at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. On walk days, registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk steps off at 10 a.m.
Robert and Michelle Callahan did not know what to expect when a routine ultrasound at 18-weeks detected unusual blood flow in their baby’s heart. Further testing determined their baby, Olivia, would be born with truncus arteriosis, an interrupted aortic arch and a ventricular septal defect. When Olivia was born on March 8, 2014, her parents were only able to see their newborn for a brief moment before she was whisked away to the cardiac intensive care unit.
Three days later, Olivia underwent open heart surgery, the first of what the Callahans learned will be several necessary open heart surgeries over the next few years.
Olivia faced several complications after surgery, including a collapsed lung, blood clot and paralysis of the left vocal cord. Little by little, she gained strength and was discharged from the hospital on April 2, 2014 with a nasogastric tube and several medications.
Today, Olivia is doing well without any tubes or medications and shows no signs of the difficulties she overcame in her very first days. Olivia’s family will share their story during the Heart Walk opening ceremonies and will lead walkers as part of Team Olivia.
The Northeast PA Heart Walk is a family and pet-friendly event that includes a 5k non-competitive fitness walk, prizes and activities for participants of all ages. Walkers who raise a minimum of $100 receive a Heart Walk T-shirt and the opportunity to earn additional prizes based on their fundraising levels. Money raised at the Heart Walk supports the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers.
For more information about the 2015 Northeast PA Heart Walks or to sign up to participate, visit www.heart.org/northeastpawalk or contact Diane McGee at 570-690-3839.