Matt Smith and son Noah interviewed by FOX 5 at Race for Every Child 2014. Photo contributed
The Smith family of Burke – parents Matt and Karen with their children: Avery, 1, Noah, 5, and Carter, 7 - participated in the second annual Race for Every Child to benefit Children's National Health System. There were more than 4,600 participants raising more than $1 million for Children's National. Matt served on this year's Race Committee.
They participated in the last year’s race as a team, “Noah’s Heart Heroes,” with the emblem of Iron Man in middle of shirt since comic character had heart problem as well and Noah loves Iron Man and superheroes in general. Even though Iron Man did not have the same heart defect as Noah, he developed a strong attachment based on their similarities. And the family participated again this year with the same Iron Man emblem on their t-shirts. The team raised about $5,000 total this year. They had 18 people on their team, and daughter Carter, 7, ran her first 5K to be supportive and also did 100 yard Kids' Dash.
At 22 weeks doctors detected a hole in Noah’s heart and informed parents he would need surgery when born. Noah was born during “blizzard of 2009,” and doctors then detected a second rare heart defect. Basically the floor plan of his heart was not in the same position as a normal heart. Noah had his first operation to fix the hole in his heart when he was 13 days old. They waited until he was 18 months to operate on the second defect. Noah’s parents were told there was a 10 percent chance his heart could be fixed, so that he could avoid future open heart surgeries (which Noah would need if not successful). Dr. Richard Jonas was able to fix Noah’s heart and now all he will require is a new valve when he is in his late teens/early twenties. His diagnosis has only happened a few times in the world. Dr. Jonas’ approach was new and innovative and led to journal articles, which will help teach others about how to address something similar.