Gerald David Stenzel, or “Jerry,” as he was better known, was born October 14, 1966, in Wells, Minnesota to Dominic and Evangeline Stenzel—who had a small farming operation and raised their 11 (yes, 11) children on the farm outside that same small town in Minnesota. Jerry had what he always described as a “normal” childhood—at least, as normal as it can be with 10 siblings—when, in fact, Jerry and his childhood were anything but normal.

Shortly after he was born, it was discovered that Jerry had a congenital heart defect. His tricuspid valve had not fully developed: diagnosis tricuspid atresia. Jerry was whisked away a few hours down the highway to Mayo Clinic, where surgeons performed a shunt operation to save his life.

My husband, Chris, and I have been together 10 years and married almost seven. Some days I still can’t believe I found my soulmate and very best friend. I’m so grateful and blessed to have him in my life.

When I was born 31 years ago I was supposedly a healthy baby girl, but at 10 weeks old and in heart failure, I was diagnosed with complex congenital heart defects: tricuspid atresia, hypoplastic right ventricle, and ventricular septal defect. Medical technology to help save us complex CHDers was still so “new,” and my parents were living moment to moment never dreaming that 31 years later I would be happily married and living a wonderful full life despite all the challenges I have faced.

Travelling is one of my favourite things to do in my free time. But as life has it, exploring the world with a congenital heart disease can be slightly different than usual.

For the last two years, I have been dealing with chronic migraines—the worst kind. My cardiologist is not sure why I am living with this type of chronic pain. I know that many of us CHDers live with chronic pain. My neurologist is bewildered as to what to do for me—due to my multiple congenital heart defects—and common migraine medications have been difficult to administer.

Sometimes I get scared I will be all alone. I'm scared my parents will leave me all alone because they are in their 80s. I need to have a Fontan revision sometime in the near future, but I'm scared I won't do well, or I will have to go it all alone because—let's face it—my mom won't fly, she has health issues of her own, and my dad, who is older than her, needs to keep her safe.