A Message from Our Chairmen

Dear American Heart Supporter,

It is with great excitement that we announce the American Heart Association’s 2011 Heart Ball: “A Time to Shine.” Julie and I are honored to be serving as chairs, and we are working hard to continue the great tradition of Heart Ball. Many of you who heard our story last year know how much the American Heart Association means to us. This cause truly has a special place in our hearts.

Our daughter, Rosemary, was born on March 6, 2008, with holes in her heart. More specifically, she had a hole on the top of her heart which resulted in an enlarged heart, and a second, smaller hole on the wall of her atria. A condition like this typically corrects itself, but due to the size of the hole in Rosemary’s heart, surgery became our only option. Doctors were surprised to learn that both Julie and her sister, Joy, were born with this same condition.

On May 2, thanks to the research dollars invested by the American Heart Association, Rosemary had a successful surgery to repair her heart. Every day that we look into the eyes of our daughter (or chase her around the house), we think about the doctors, nurses and the technology that made such an impact in our lives. The heart defect that Rosemary was born with would have taken her from us had it not been for the Heart Association and for people just like you.

It is our goal that, when all is said and done, we surpass last year’s financial contributions to the American Heart Association, and that you find this year’s Ball to be one of the best.

Warm regards,

Parke and Julie Cochran
2011 Chairmen