Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping:
Originally posted 23/10/2026 in the Adelaide Advertiser
By Karen Grace Prince
After five open-heart surgeries, Thebarton four-year-old Audrey Librino will step out with family and friends this Sunday for HeartKids’ Two Feet & A Heartbeat walk.
It’s hard to believe that little Audrey Librino, a bubbly, extremely social and always smiling four-year-old girl, has lived a life unlike any other child her age.
Audrey, from Thebarton, was diagnosed with congenital heart disease, specifically a narrowing of the aortic arch. She has already undergone five open-heart surgeries, three thoracotomies and three pacemaker operations.
Her parents, Lauryn and Mary Librino, first found out something was wrong during a 12-week ultrasound. A detailed anatomy scan at 16 weeks confirmed the heart defect in September 2022.
Lauryn said the couple were “very upset and scared about the unknown”.
“But we were reassured by a lot of the doctors we spoke to, we were assured that it was very manageable, treatable,” she said.
“We knew she would need surgery within the first week of life so we were prepared for that.”
Because Adelaide hospitals cannot perform complex open-heart surgery on young children, Audrey was flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and MedStar just 48 hours after her birth.
“She had her first open-heart surgery at four days old, just a teeny tiny 2.4 kilo baby,” Lauryn said.
“We’ve had four extended trips to Melbourne because she’s had much more surgeries than anyone thought she would need, so it’s just been back and forth.”
Despite her extensive medical history, Audrey has remained remarkably resilient, and she is genuinely excited about hospital visits.
“She loves doctors and gets genuinely very excited … she doesn’t stop moving or stop talking,” Lauryn said.
“She’s extremely social and will go up to absolutely anyone to ask a million questions.”
Although Audrey is currently stable and doing really well, Lauryn said congenital heart conditions were a lifelong journey.
“She will probably need more surgery or interventions in the future and we just never know when something might pop up,” she said.
“That’s always in the background.”
Throughout their journey, the Librino family have been especially grateful to HeartKids, which has played a pivotal role in providing practical and emotional support over the past four years.
The charity has been a crucial lifeline for the family. It has provided accommodation and meal vouchers during emergency interstate trips, and kept their elder daughter, Gemima, 5, entertained during vital medical meetings.
This Sunday, the family will step out with a big group of relatives and friends for the Two Feet & A Heartbeat walk in support of HeartKids, fully decked out in the charity’s gear.
“Audrey is so excited, she keeps asking how many more sleeps until HeartKids,” Lauryn said.
“It’s about spreading awareness, coming together as a community, and having that day to raise lots of money.”
