I was born with an Endocardial cushion defect, meaning that I was born with a defect in my heart’s atrial septum, the ventricular septum, and one or both of the AV valves. When detected prior to birth, often there is a high probability that the infant will be born with down-syndome, though I was fortunate to avoid such a diagnosis. Although I am unsure of the extent of damage, I had my first open-heart operation at the age of two at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and today continue extensive check-ups every two years by Dr. Bhargava in Vorhees, NJ. Today, I still suffer from a moderate heart murmur as well as other a few other complications that will have to be repaired later on in my life.

Currently, I am a student enrolled at East Stroudsburg University. Just finishing up my Sophmore year, I’m double-majoring in Social Studies Secondary Education and Pre-Law Political Science, as well as working towards a Spanish minor. I hope to graduate from East Stroudsburg and attend law school, hopefully, at Boston University or George Washington University for Intellectual Property Law. Given the prominent roles that the internet and computer have played within the last twenty years, I am facsinated with digital copyrights and electronic contracts, and hope to become involved in the future of intellectual property rights.

Finally done my Spring 2009 semester, I look forward to a summer filled with working as a Member Services Representative at ABCO Federal Credit Union, my four courses that I will be attending at Burlington County College, and the sporadic trips to the beach and hopefully a roadtrip I’m planning. Only a week out of school and home for the summer, work has consumed my week, though I enjoy my job and the members make it interesting. I really hope to have enough saved to purchase a used car – a Jeep Wrangler – for the next school semester. My small coupe doesn’t quite cut it in the Pocono winters.

My first year away from home went great. My roomates and I got along very well, and the college is amazing. I have been pleased with most of my professors, and I’m glad I chose a smaller University, as getting to know your peers and teachers is a lot easier. I’m excited to have a blog to write in, and as events occur, I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted. Thank you to everyone for your continued support, and I commend everything that the Sydney Mae Taylor Foundation does to bring recognition to these often undetected serious defects.

Zach’s blog coming soon.