Blake is your typical toddler. He swings, socializes, dances, and plays. He also lives with Congenital Heart Disease. Blake is the son of lifelong St. Augustine residents, Angela and Jody Hunter. Days after Blake was born at Flagler Hospital, he was diagnosed with truncus arteriosus type III (a form of Congenital Heart Disease), then transferred to the NICU of Wolfsons in Downtown Jacksonville, where he spent the first two months of his life.
In his first two years, he’s had two open heart surgeries, and two heart catheterizations. Since he’s missing a main artery, Blake has an artificial artery/conduit, which he will have surgically replaced throughout his life, along with interventions to monitor and stabilize his heart as he grows. He will see a congenital cardiologist his whole life. “Although 1 in 100 babies are born with a defect, and CHD is the leading cause of all infants deaths in the U.S., awareness and funding remain low,” said Angela. “Children like Blake don’t wear their illness on the outside, so people often don’t realize how sick these kids (or adults) really are.”
BLAKE IS WHY
Jody and Angela have shifted from a unsettling diagnosis, to advocacy. They’ve teamed up with the American Heart Association, and are sharing Blake’s story as a way of helping raise awareness, funding, and support for other families. This fall, look for Blake’s face throughout the region as he has been selected as the face of the First Coast Heart Walk taking place in Jacksonville’s Metropolitan Park on Saturday, September 19.
“I’m hopeful that research can develop a conduit that will grow and that Blake will not have to face continuous open heart surgeries. That people will realize that even though Blake “looks” healthy, he’s not! That funding and research can help lead to a long and healthy (as much as possible) life for Blake and those like him,” said Angela. “The more awareness, the more funding is raised, the more research for better treatments,” added Jody.
Although the Hunters received widespread support in the early days of Blake’s life, they realize not all are as fortunate. Their hope is through their outreach and advocacy, they can help build support for other families who have children dealing with chronic conditions.
When Blake isn’t campaigning, Angela and Jody try to give Blake as much interaction as possible, while watching out for him, and trying not to spoil him. “He’s faced so much at such a young age. We almost lost him a few times, so we probably give in more than we should,” said Angela. “We try not to live in the past or the future. We try to live in the moment, which means if Blake wants a cookie at 9 a.m., he gets one.”
Blake continues to inspire Angela and Jody with his happiness and love for life, and everyone he comes in contact with. “We always talk to people that say things like “I started to feel bad about… But then I thought about Blake and all he’s been though and, well, it’s not as big of a deal now.”
TEAM BLAKE
Join Team Blake Saturday September 19 at the First Coast Heart Walk at Jacksonville’s Metropolitan Park. Register here.
Learn more about Blake, and becoming involved with this this year’s Heart Walk by visiting firstcoastheartwalk.org.
Featured in St. Augustine Social August/September print issue. Photography by Rob Futrell, exclusive to St. Augustine Social.
