🫀 My Comeback Story — And Why I’m Giving Back
This season means more to me than ever before. A year ago, I was facing open heart surgery — a reality that could’ve ended my playing career. But thanks to the incredible team at the Alberta Mazankowski Heart Institute and the rare expertise of Dr. Jeevan Nagendran, I was given a second chance.
Dr. Nagendran performed a highly specialized minithoracotomy — a closed-chest, open-heart procedure that allowed me to avoid a full sternotomy. It was his skill, along with the care and compassion of the Maz team, that made it possible for me to return to full-contact hockey — something I was told might never happen again.
It’s been over 600 days since my last official U SPORTS game. I’m not entirely sure what to expect coming back but what I do know is that I’ve worked incredibly hard for this moment.Â
That’s why this season, I’m launching “Points with Purpose” a fundraiser where supporters can pledge a donation for every point I score. 50% of all proceeds will go to the Alberta Mazankowski Heart Institute, and the other half will support my team and education as I continue to chase my dreams both on and off the ice.
I'll be doing my best, not just to compete but to drive this campaign forward, spread awareness, and give back to one of Canada’s best cardiovascular research institutes.
Without the Maz, this season wouldn’t be possible. So every shift, every goal, every assist all means more now.
I am excited to return to the ice with the teammates and coaching staff who’ve shown me so much support this past year and a half. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about my story and for your support this season!
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- Michela Naccarato
Trinity Western University Women's Hockey #24
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Be sure to subscribe to the FundRazr email notifications to stay updated on my journey this year! I will be posting weekly updates right here under the "Updates" Tab above!
Highlights
See all activity33How can I donate?
Let's make things interesting....Â
You can pledge a dollar amount for every point I score this U SPORTS season — every goal or assist I record helps fuel this fundraiser.
How it works:
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Fill out the pledge form → Pledge Sign Up Link - Click Here!
You choose your dollar amount per point (e.g. $2, $5, $10, etc.) -
Each week, I’ll send out a short email update with a recap of how the weekend went and include my personal stats so you know how much to donate for that week.Â
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You can donate right here on the site using your credit card. I’ll include a donation link in every email to make it quick and easy.
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Feel free to share my campaign link with others who might want to support, too!
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For those who want to follow along, you can watch our games live on Canada West TV and catch the action as it happens.
đź—“ Note: We only play 28 regular season games, so your pledge commitment is capped when the regular season concludes. You’ll know exactly how many points I’ve earned and how much you’re contributing week to week.Â
If you have any questions feel free to email me at mnaccmedia@gmail.comÂ
Thank you so much for your support!Â
