It is that time of year again where everybody is reminded of this little piece of equipment we all have. It is a piece of equipment that we all need and if it isn’t working neither are we. February is Heart Month. Every seven minutes someone dies for heart disease and stroke in Canada. While the statistics don’t lie, the research the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation has been able to fund has made heart health not only a priority, but has contributed to many medical breakthroughs.

Many Canadians look to the Canadian Heart and Stroke foundation as leaders in heart health - many British Columbians look to the Vancouver Children’s Hospital Cardiology Centre as leaders in heart care. It is with this in mind that Tanya and Al Lawes made their decision on who to donate the proceeds of their second annual fundraiser for heart health to. Tanya and Al Lawes have three healthy children - 10 year old Amika, four year old Syd and 2 year old Layna. From all outward appearances they are just three healthy happy kids from a good family, but not all is good in the heart of little Layna. Layna has tricuspid stenosis. Tricuspid stenosis is when the tricuspid valve is too small. It is a relatively rare condition, but one that the Lawes family has had to deal with since Layna’s birth.

Right now, Layna behaves like any normal two year old “except she is more determined and stubborn than most,” joked mom Tanya. “She is very determined. She doesn’t want any help to skate. She just want to go and when we were up at Manning Park to ski she wanted to try it out. She is very active.”

Al and Tanya took Layna to Edmonton in November. Edmonton has the best heart centre in Canada with the best 3D eco-cardiogram equipment in Canada. “We were pretty hopeful that they would be able to provide us with a solution for Layna’s condition,” said Tanya. “we were hoping for a surgical repair. They looked inside her heart. They stuck a probe down her esophagus and hooked up ultra-sound on the outside of her heart to get accurate information. Then, they use a computer to interpret the data. “We did not get the answer we wanted. They can’t help Layna with a surgical repair.”

When Layna turns around 15 years old, doctors will perform a valve replacement. “They want to wait as long as possible,” Tanya stated. “There is a risk of stroke or aneurism, so it is scary as a parent, but for now Layna is a healthy happy little girl and we really want to give something back to the people who have helped us so much.

That is why the Lawes family is holding a second annual fundraiser throughout the whole month of February. Every Tuesday, all proceeds from the Bridge St. Car Wash (near the brown bridge) will go to Vancouver Children’s Hospital’s Heart Centre. “We are so fortunate to have the kind of heart care we have here in B.C. and it is really important to us not only that they keep on making advances in heart disease, but that they can continue to offer the quality care that we count on,” said Tanya.

In February, there are a lot of dirty vehicles. On every Tuesday in February - the 2, 9, 16 and 23 Princeton residents need to show their support. We all know someone with heart disease. Together we can make a difference.