Our Mom, Nina Beck, was an amazing person. As she raised us, she raised about a hundred other kids too. She was always one to help whenever and where ever she could. She volunteered at every school we attended, every sports league we joined and church. After we graduated from high school, Northern High School realized they were losing their BEST volunteer, so they hired her. Of course she practically ran the school's front office or so she made it seem. The copiers and coffee were ready every morning before anyone ever arrived. She loved her job and the school, especially the kids.

In 1996, Mom turned 50. That summer she was unusually sick. She soon discovered that she was in heart failure. She was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart muscle. Mom started seeing a cardiologist, Dr. Elizabeth Ross, who works out of Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Dr. Ross and all the great doctors at WHC Heart Failure Team were able to provide Mom with the best care anyone could ask. Mom lived 14 years with this illness. In those 14 years, Mom never gave up. She fought a good fight and the doctors were all there helping her and cheering her on. In fall of 2010, Mom received a LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device). The best description, we can think of, for an LVAD, is an artificial heart pump. After receiving the LVAD, Mom felt the best she had in 14 years. We were given the best gift of another Thanksgiving and Christmas with Mom.

Through all of this, Mom loved life, loved her family, especially her grandkids, loved her friends and loved her doctors at WHC. She actually looked forward to seeing the doctors, when it was just a regular check up. Mom was a huge advocate for WHC Heart. If she learned of someone having heart problems, her immediate response was "Here is the name of my cardiologist and you need to see the doctors at WHC Heart." To Mom, there was no other hospital to go to where your heart was concerned.

We hope you will help us honor Mom's life and her determination in finding a cure for heart disease by joining us at this golf outing benefiting WHC Heart. We believe by supporting WHC, we are helping others live life a little longer, just as Mom was blessed.

The Beck Family