A Birmingham family’s heart journey

After a picture-perfect pregnancy and birth of their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, Andy and Elizabeth Shelton’s world quickly came crashing down.

At just one day old, Sarah Elizabeth was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot—a serious congenital heart defect that causes oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and into the rest of the body. The rare condition affects about 1 out of every 2,518 babies born in the US each year.

The diagnosis led to Sarah Elizabeth requiring surgery at just a few weeks old to have a shunt put in to help her heart pump blood more effectively.

“I have no words to describe the feeling of having to hand over your newborn and watch as they are rolled away from you into major surgery.”
Elizabeth Shelton

While the surgery was a success, Sarah Elizabeth would require open-heart surgery at seven months old.

“During and after the surgery, Sarah Elizabeth did amazingly well. Bringing her home initially was bound by fear, but this time felt like we were free. Free to go live life and enjoy all the beauty that comes with it.”
Elizabeth Shelton

Sarah Elizabeth then + now

Sarah Elizabeth. (Elizabeth Shelton)

From dance lessons and cheerleading to tennis and indoor rock climbing, Sarah Elizabeth has never let her heart condition slow her down. Now a senior in high school, she continues to live a happy, active life.

American Heart Association celebrates 100 years in 2024

Thanks to a century of the AHA’s research and life-saving medical breakthroughs, lives like Sarah Elizabeth’s, and countless more, have been positively affected.

Here are some things to know about the AHA:

It was founded in 1924 by six cardiologists.
It’s the nation’s oldest + largest voluntary organizations dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.
It has invested billions in research so people can prevent, live with, manage or recover from heart conditions.

Help save lives—sign up now for an upcoming Heart Walk in Birmingham + Tuscaloosa.

How you can help keep hearts beating in Birmingham + beyond

Want to help protect the hearts of those you love as well as your own? A great way to do it is to sign up for an upcoming AHA Heart Walk.

This March, the AHA will host two Heart Walks—one in Birmingham and one in Tuscaloosa. By signing up, you’ll be helping the AHA raise awareness and funds for life-saving research, education programs and more.

Plus, it’s fun to participate! Whether you walk as an individual or join a team, you’ll be helping to save lives.