​MY PATIENT PARTNER: ELLIOT GRACE

I lfirst learned about Elliot through my 8 year old son, Jacob. One day, he told me "Mom, you know Elliot at orchestra? Only half of her heart is working!" 

Elliot Grace was born with a condition called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome. The right ventricle of her heart did not develop. She needed 3 open heart surgeries to reroute the blood flow around her non functioning right ventricle. Her first surgery was at 3 days old. Her 2nd was before she turned 6 months, and her 3rd was before she turned 3. Her journey doesn't end there. She continues to take medication and her heart health is closely monitored by doctors at Boston Children's Hospital.

Today, Elliot is a thriving 5th grader at Josiah Quincy Elementary School, a ballerina at Boston Ballet School, and a Webelo Cub Scout with Pack 617. She is also a violinist with Boston Music Project. She continues to advocate for the entire CHD community through her annual lemonade stand to fundraise for CHD research and her birthday blood drive with American Red Cross. 

Without the groundbreaking research and the brilliant doctors at Boston Children's Hospital, Elliot wouldn't be here today!

I'm running Boston Marathon to honor Elliot's incredible strength, hope, and resilience! As a mother myself, I am also running in tribute to her mom, Melissa, who has shown unwavering hope, fought fearlessly,  and undoubtedly shed many tears throughout this journey. You and Elliot are both warriors and will be my inspiration on marathon day.

​ABOUT PRECISION VACCINES PROGRAM

I’m running my very first Boston Marathon to support the Boston Children’s Hospital's Precision Vaccines Program. This is more than just a race—it’s a run for answers, resilience, and trust in science that can change lives.

I'm supporting a good friend, fellow Filipino, Dr. Joann Arce and the extraordinary team at the Precision Vaccines Program who are at the forefront of critical research that brings hope and healing to families everywhere. 

Every dollar I raise propels this research forward and makes a tangible difference in countless lives.

• Biomarkers for Opioid Addiction: The opioid crisis spares no age, impacting children and adolescents. They are working to identify biomarkers that could improve understanding, prevention, and treatment strategies for this pressing issue.
• Long COVID: The lingering impacts of the pandemic have left many grappling with long-term effects. The team is pioneering research into how long COVID affects adults, developing strategies for better care and support.

• Vaccine Safety and Public Trust: In a world where vaccine hesitancy poses significant challenges, their team leads the global effort to understand and address vaccine adverse events. Their research includes characterizing clinical risk factors and identifying molecular signatures/biomarkers associated with rare adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination, such as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), myocarditis, and pericarditis. This work aims to fight hesitancy, build trust, and protect communities by ensuring vaccines are as safe and effective as possible.

Please support my fundraising and my marathon journey!

DONATIONS $1,000 AND ABOVE: Giving you a special shoutout! Your name or logo will be placed on my running shirt for the Boston Marathon!