NPC NEWS ONLINE: Luca Knows Heart

lucaknowsheart
My name is Virginia Kinkel.I’ve been competing in the NPC for the past 2.5 years (working hard on getting my pro card just like everyone else!) and am also a former Terp.  While I was at Maryland I met my best friend Megan Delagarza and her now husband AJ Delagarza.  AJ was a soccer player from 2005-2008 when he was drafted by the LA Galaxy in early ’09.

Just over a year ago, his wife Megan wanted to compete in NPC bikini and I helped prep her for the Titans Grand Prix in Southern California last October.  Competing is something she wanted to continue, but shortly after that show she became pregnant with her son Luca.

Halfway through the pregnangalaxycy Meg & AJ found out Luca had HLHS which basically means the left ventricle in his heart wasn’t growing- and it’s seriously risky for an infant.  He was born last Thursday 8/29 via C-section (3 weeks before his due date) so they could begin many rounds of surgery.  In his first week of life he went through 2 open heart surgeries- moments after he was born, then again the day after when his heart craterps1shed and he was on life support.

On Thursday Sept 4th, he was weaned off life support to prep him for his third surgery, but his tiny body wasn’t strong enough and he passed away.

Since then, the MLS & Maryland Terps have come together to show support for LucaKnowsHeart and to raise awareness and money for HLHS.  Here is the website/blog Megan created for LucaKnowsHeart and also has links to ways anyone can help get involved:  http://lucaknowsheart.wordpress.com/

Thank you for taking time to read this and learn about two incredible people and their sweet baby.

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