It is not common to be born with half a heart, but freshman Rocklin cheerleader Abbey Beers was born with a rare heart disease and still lives like everyone else with shared interests and thoughts.
Abbey was born with congenital heart disease, which in her case means that she has half a heart. She has gone through 3 open heart surgeries, tons of doctor appointments, MRIs, and annual cardiologist visits.

In addition, Abbey also had a broad transition from middle school to high school because she went to a K-8 charter school called Maria Montessori Charter Academy. It is a small school where she was able to create strong connections and everlasting friendships with people. “…you can get to know people better, and it’s easier to get to know each other at a charter school. It’s just easier to connect with people there,” said Abbey.

“She has gone through 3 open heart surgeries, tons of doctor appointments, MRIs, and annual cardiologist visits.”

However, joining the RHS cheer team made transitioning to this public school smoother. Now Abbey is one of the team captains. She appreciates being a part of the vibrant school spirit, but her favorite aspects are the friends she has made and the memorable experiences she has had.

As a teenager, you start to develop new thoughts and wonders, but Abbey claims she fears that her future will not be everything that she imagines in her eyes. “My biggest fear is that none of my hopes and dreams are gonna come true and I´m gonna be unorganized for the rest of my life and my life is going to be ” complete failure.” Her favorite movie, Despicable Me, is full of laughter and positive energy. It helps her feel better and helps her think through these negative thoughts. Moreover, she loves the actor Steve Carrell. “Yeah, big fan of Steve Carell. My favorite person in the world actually!¨ said, Abbey.