Hello, my name is Kaylee I am 24 years old and was born with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. At just 2 days old I had my first heart surgery to place a shunt in my heart. At 9 months old when I was big enough I had my first open heart surgery they went in and repaired my condition.

Almost 48 hours after my operation my heart stopped. They tried all emergency measures but got no response so the medical took a chance on the new ECMO machine.

I was the first baby to try it from cardiac arrest so the odds were slim, but it worked! After being on life support for a week I had my second open heart surgery to replace my pulmonary valve.

As I have grown up I have been closely monitored by my cardiac team and have had 3 more open heart surgeries, one at 3 years old, 15 years old, and one at 23 years old last August. Although I have had lots of surgeries and appointments over the years I haven't let that stop me! I graduated high school on time and went to University and received an Early Learning and Childcare diploma and a Criminal Sociology degree.