Ava Sharp's Heart Surgery Fundraiser

For those of you who don't know Ava, here is a brief summary of her. Ava Marie Sharp was born June 7, 2007 to Jaime and Cory Sharp. Ava has two older sisters, Amayah and Mykaela Sharp and soon to be a big sister of baby Cory in March of 2014. Ava is in the 1st grade at Rolling Hills Elementary and has been awarded "Student of the Week" and has been on the A&B honor roll. Ava's hobbies are playing fast-pitch softball, bowling and driving illegally with her grandpa. Ava's favorite colors are pink and purple. Ava likes her hamburgers plain and dry and is a very picky eater. She loves to watch movies and has discovered a new interest in learning how to play the drums. Ava has a big heart and would give anything she could for someone who is doing without. Ava loves going to church and watching the BIBLE on the History channel. Ava was diagnosed with a PDA in October 2013. This condition stemmed from birth. PDA is short for Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a heart problem that affects some babies soon after birth. In PDA, abnormal blood flow occurs between two of the major arteries connected to the heart. These arteries are the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Before birth, these arteries are connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus. This blood vessel is a vital part of fetal blood circulation. Within minutes or up to a few days after birth, the ductus arteriosus closes. This change is normal in newborns. In some babies, however, the ductus arteriosus remains open. The opening allows oxygen-rich blood from the aorta to mix with oxygen-poor blood from the pulmonary artery. This can strain the heart and increase blood pressure in the lung arteries. Ava has been a warrior through the whole process and continues to this day.