THUNDER BAY – Elizabeth Faiers is living proof that heart research pays off.
Just six years old, the youngster was born with half a heart and was in surgery before she was a week old.
She’s still not out of the woods, and the day will likely come before she leaves high school that a heart transplant saves her life again.
For now, she’s just your average elementary student, who loves to laugh, play with her brothers and sisters and spend time with friends.
She also travels from school to school each year in Thunder Bay to deliver her message of hope and help the Heart and Stroke Foundation kick off their annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraising campaign.
On Thursday Elizabeth was at Agnew H. Johnston Public School, where students are hoping to top the $15,500 they raised last year for the organization, which funds research into heart disease and strokes.
“I’m a heart warrior, what’s your super power?” Elizabeth asked the crowd of children at an assembly in the school gym.
Her mom, Melissa, said her daughter is an inspiration.
Despite going through three open-heart surgeries, she’s never really complained and takes it all in stride. Her success is why it’s so important to keep the research going.
“We know that we’re really fortunate. We see friends who don’t do as well. We see friends who haven’t survived this long and we know we’re just super fortunate to still have her and have her really healthy,” Melissa said.
“We have decided to use the time we have been given with her to make a difference. We got to these jump events and do as much as we can ... to just get the awareness out there for people understand it affects unborn babies, it affects everyone.”
Melody Lavallee, area co-ordinator for Northwestern Ontario for the Heart and Stroke Foundation said the Jump Rope for Heart campaign has been in place for more than three decades and has been a major fundraiser for the organization over the years.
“We hope to reduce the stat of losing one Canadian every seven minutes to heart and stroke by 2020,” she said.
Why take it to the schools?
Why not, Lavallee said.
“It’s important for the kids to learn at an early age how to keep care of their heart,” she said, adding heart disease is caused by both lifestyle and genetics and knowing one’s risk factors could be key.
For more information or to see if your child’s school is taking part, visit www.jumpropeforheart.ca.
