A portrait of Leslie

Leslie was born prematurely with hearing loss, and congenital heart defects

Leslie with a smile

Leslie looked for her mommy at the park...

Grandpa Harold fed me

Leslie sitting on her Grandpa's lap in Minnesota

Leslie volunteered at the men's downhill course at the 2002 Winter Olympics

I was born prematurely with hearing loss, a congenital heart defect and several other birth defects. I grew up with headaches. I was born into outdoor sports. I was a member of the Cottonwood Tennis team, Minnetonka Racquet Club, BYU-Hawaii Women's tennis team, Women's Volvo tennis team and Liberty Women's tennis team. I was also a member of Skijammers Ski Club, Snowcrest Ski team for racing training and a professional ski instructor, Midwest Professional Ski instructor, USSA Ski team for Midwest and Intermountain Divisions, Tryout for Winter Olympics Ski team in Keystone, Colorado and Professional Ski Instructors and Coach for Snowbird, Brighton and Park City ski schools for past twelve years. I was walker for the "Achilles Track club" for past five years until I had a diagnosis about seven years ago. I joined the club because I had broken ankle due to chairlift accidents in Minnesota. I am no longer to run any more, because the bones fused. I decided to walk in the races and kept my body shape up. I am loved traveler....

One day, I felt something wrong in my jaw and chest—warning signs. I went to the hospital immediately. The doctors ordered me to take lots of tests for hours, then gave me a diagnosis. It is called "Aortic Valve Stenosis". The doctor gave me a medication for a year, called Zocor. I decided to go to another doctor for second opinion. His name is Dr. Stephen L. Miller. I explained to him what other doctor had found. Dr. Miller had me take more tests. He said that I have a congenital heart defect, which is called "Congenital Bicuspid Aortic Valve". The doctor and nurses explained to me that this aortic became too thick with high cholesterol. That is how it became too narrow, so it progressed to "Aortic Valve Stenosis." They showed me that my aortic valve has two leaflets instead of three.

Sometimes, my two leaflets clapped three times so far. It hurt, but my doctor told me that it is muscles functioning for the leaflets in my heart. I am still taking medications as Vytorin and Metoprolol for high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. I told my doctors that I am no longer to hike uphill at the mountains, because of my heart beats very fast.

From now on, I ask my friends and family if they don't mind if we take chairlift rides up to the top of the mountains, so we can hike down the mountains. My friends and family agree. I appreciate their supports for understanding about my heart condition. My all friends and family want me to slow down and take it easy, because of the stress. I am very careful, and I do my best to take it easy from now on.