Tierney was born with congenital heart defects (Atrial Septal Defects and Ventricular Septal Defects). She had cardiovascular surgery at less than three months of age and open heart surgery at four years old. At age 16, she was diagnosed with a very rare illness known as Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction (CIP) for which there is no cure and few treatment options (far fewer for her because she was also a heart patient). She is my hero!
