Matt, a Howard Beach native, was diagnosed at age 4 with two heart conditions: Atrial Septal Defect, a hole in the wall between the upper chambers of the heart, and Mitral Valve Regurgitation, when blood flows backward because the mitral valve closes improperly. If left untreated, the heart is permanently damaged and heart failure will eventually occur.

Back in 1975, doctors performed surgery to correct the atrial septal defect, but at the time options were limited to surgically treat the mitral valve regurgitation. Matt lived with shortness of breath, an irregular heart rhythm, and low energy for his entire childhood and young adult life. Doctors' orders to avoid contact sports or over exertion fell on deaf ears and Matt, a sports enthusiast, stepped into the boxing ring and competitively ran road races every chance he had.

In November of 2004, Matt's health took a turn for the worse. He was training for a marathon when he came down with a respiratory infection. After consulting with a leading cardiologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center , Matt decided it was time to get the surgery to repair his mitral valve. The surgery would prove to be extremely complex, but fortunately for Matt he had one of the top cardiothoracic surgeons in the country, Dr. David Adams of Mount Sinai Heart, performing the delicate procedure.

The surgery was a success and the mitral valve was fully repaired with no need for further surgery or treatment. Matt was back to work just a month later, exercising in three months, and completed a half marathon in January 2006, less than a year after the surgery.

Today, Matt is gearing up for the New York City marathon. For the marathon, Matt has two goals: to cross the finish line and to raise awareness and funds for the Children's Heart Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center . Matt understands firsthand the difficulty of growing up with a congenital heart defect and the importance of receiving treatment at a world class institution. The cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons at the Children's Heart Center are recognized experts in diagnosing and treating heart ailments in children and getting them back to their homes and families as soon as possible.

To help support Matt in his run across New York City for the Children's Heart Center at Mount Sinai. Please click here.