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who do you play for?
Change The world
The stories
Jessica Todd Hinke
My husband, Miguel, and I play for William. William is our 3-year-old-son who has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HPLHS). He was diagnosed at 17 weeks into my pregnancy. We have loved William since he was conceived, and are constantly amazed at the amount of love, kindness, and silliness this three year old has! William is a true superhero with some amazing super powers! With light-up rain boots and a handmade a t-shirt cape, William has fought many battles in his short three years: 2 open heart surgeries, being on ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) for 12 days, 1 catherization, multiple other hospital stays, and the one he is most proud of: 8 stitches in his forehead (a little boy must learn that only make-believe superheroes can fly!). This year William will undergo another catherization and another open heart surgery. We have no doubt that he will show us how brave and strong he really is. Everyday we are thankful for our little man, and everyday we play for him!
Laura Friend
I do this work in the memory of my daughter Sarah and all the young people who have died too soon from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and to add to their loving legacy. I believe that God has placed this mission before me and I hope that I could come close to living the honorable life all these students have. We have a genuine LOVE for people and want to help prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest from taking others. Life is precious, and detectable heart disease should never take a life when a screening could have found it. WWPF, thank you for carrying the torch and spreading the message from coast to coast.
Dylan Backalar
I play for kids like Wes Leonard, who didn't know that they had a heart defect, and their first symptom was Sudden Cardiac Arrest. I was fortunate enough to find out about my heart defect, Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome (WPW), even before I had a symptom. When I found out that San Antonio Spur and NBA All Star LaMarcus Aldridge had WPW, I wrote him a letter and was able to meet him. It was a great day! Because I was one of the lucky ones, I feel it is important to give back and volunteer at Heart Screenings, which are so important and helpful in finding other kids' possible heart defects before it's too late.
