I’m Cassie, the mother of McLain a brave 8 year old boy with the congenital heart defect called coarctation of the aorta and a bicuspid aortic valve. This diagnosis has come with countless complications, missed diagnoses, and what at times feels like never ending hospital visits. Ours is a story marked by pain, perseverance, and a fierce kind of love that’s hard to put into words.

The heart journey is not easy but it is worth it. There will be moments that bring you to your knees but there can also be moments of pure happiness and joy. Grief and happiness can coexist.