The Children's Heart Foundation

We're proud to have 15 runners on our team for the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon! ❤🤩 To meet the team or make a donation to support their fundraising efforts, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/heartsthatracenyc/

Wishing everyone a happy Labor Day! ❤

Join us as we walk in 12 cities this month! Our Congenital Heart Walk is coming to:
🗻Denver
🎸Cleveland
🌾Tulsa
🌳Birmingham
🎶Nashville
🍺Milwaukee
🌵Phoenix
🏙️St. Louis
🍎New York City
🏈Columbus
🤠Dallas
🍑Atlanta

Register to be part of the nation's largest walk series dedicated to raising funds and awareness for congenital heart defect research: http://chfwalk.org/

Clinical Trial Opportunity: Researchers in the Department of Pediatrics of Weill Cornell Medical College are conducting a clinical trial to direct formation of new heart muscle cells in infants with congenital heart disease. The research team welcomes provider- and self-referrals of families who are awaiting the birth of their infant with tetralogy of Fallot or have a newborn with tetralogy of Fallot.

Click here to learn more about the trial and how to participate: https://bit.ly/3X3v5oZ

Today - on his birthday - we are proud to highlight the work of Dr. Vivien Thomas, who changed the history of heart surgery and broke barriers along the way. ❤️ Grandson of a slave, Vivien Thomas was planning to attend medical school but lost his savings in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash. He secured a job as a lab assistant at Vanderbilt University with Dr. Alfred Blalock. Thomas rapidly mastered complex surgical techniques, but in an era when institutional racism was the norm, Thomas was classified, and paid, as a janitor. Dr. Blalock moved to Johns Hopkins University in 1941 and urged Thomas to come with him. Together, along with Dr. Helen Taussig, they developed the procedure used in the "blue baby" operation—the first attempt to treat Tetralogy of Fallot. Though Thomas was not credited at the time, he was truly a cardiac pioneer who developed techniques and tools that would lead to today’s modern heart surgery.

While he received little recognition from Blalock, Thomas supervised the surgical research laboratories at Johns Hopkins from 1941–1979, training and educating the world’s finest heart surgeons. In 1976, Johns Hopkins University presented Thomas with an honorary doctorate.

Today we're sharing the story of Frankie 🤍 "Frankie was diagnosed with at our 20 week anatomy scan. After many appointments he was diagnosed with Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia, his pulmonary valve had also closed at 16 weeks utero and never opened. After birth he also developed WPW and overtime chronic lung disease. He was born July 26,2023 at Methodist Hospital where he was quickly rushed to the NICU, only to be transferred a few hours later to the PICU where he would live his entire life. Frankie faced many medical obstacles during his 6 months and 6 days of life. When he was 3 weeks old he underwent his first open heart surgery and 24 hours later his second where his heart was converted to single ventricle. He then underwent a tracheostomy, many codes and 2 more heart surgeries. Frankie faced more obstacles in his short life than most will ever face and through it all remained the happiest, sweetest, most determined baby boy ever. We are so proud of him and his incredible story. Although his life was short Frankie is an incredible reminder that a hard diagnosis does not have to define you!"

The Children’s Heart Foundation has committed to $900,000 in funding over the next three years to support large-scale research and quality improvement initiatives led by Cardiac Networks United, a collaborative pediatric and congenital cardiovascular network.🔬❤ The network is led by Cincinnati Children's Hospital and University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Through the continued collaboration between The Children’s Heart Foundation and Cardiac Networks United, organization leaders strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of patients and families impacted by congenital heart defects. Learn more: https://bit.ly/CHFCNU2024

Don't see a Congenital Heart Walk in your area? Register for our Virtual Congenital Heart Walk! This event brings together heart families in every state where we don’t currently have a walk to raise funds for congenital heart defect research! ❤️ Which state will have the most registrants or raise the most money for research? Let’s find out! Register or start a team here: https://events.chfwalk.org/event/nationwide

On this we want to hear YOUR story ❤ Share your Heart Warrior's story, name, or anything you'd like with us below.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Adamczyk family for their extraordinary support for the Cleveland Congenital Heart Walk. Last weekend, they hosted an event with over 130 guests and more than 180 raffle prizes at the Brew Garden Strongsville; the day was a huge success, filled with joy and fun. Their incredible efforts helped them raise over $16,000, pushing Team ’s total contributions to The Children's Heart Foundation to over $130,000 in just 3.5 years.❤ INCREDIBLE!

While much is still unknown about the causes of congenital heart defects ( ), one thing is clear: research into congenital heart defects will ultimately lead to more knowledge about the causes, as well as how to best prevent and treat CHDs.

This is the story of Callie ❤ After a completely normal pregnancy, Keri Shirley was shocked to find that her beautiful baby girl had been born with a rare congenital heart defect. After many tests, ultrasounds, and blood draws, Callie passed away in her mother and father’s arms. She was just two days and six hours old. “I’m a firm believer that someday, with advances in research, early detection of a heart defect such as Callie's could lead to a different outcome, which is why this organization means so much to our family,” shares Keri.

Today we're sending a big thank you to the esteemed doctors from across the country who serve on our Medical Advisory Council (MAC). ❤ Our MAC oversees our research granting process and helps ensure that we fund the most promising and impactful research each year. Meet them here: https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about-us/medical-advisory-council.html

Did you know that many companies will match donations by employees to The Children's Heart Foundation? Having your employer match your donation DOUBLES its impact on our mission.❤ Use the tool on our website to see if your employer matches gifts:
https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/get-involved/matching-gifts.html

There are TWO Congenital Heart Walks taking place this weekend in Michigan - the Detroit Congenital Heart Walk, Presented by Rick Young Insurance and Grateful Giving Foundation, and the Western Michigan Congenital Heart Walk 🤩❤ Will you be joining us? Give your walk team a shout out in the comments below! 👇

It's not too late to join us! Register today to become a fundraising walker or start a team: http://chfwalk.org

Then ➡️ Now

We love to see thriving.❤ Share your then & now photos with us below!

Listen to Dr. Caitlin Rollins' (Boston Children’s Hospital update on her research on how fetal brain MRIs might predict neurodevelopmental outcomes for babies and children with congenital heart defects ( ). This research was funded by The Children's Heart Foundation in 2020. Watch here:

Dr. Caitlin Rollins on her Research Listen as Dr. Caitlin Rollins (Director, Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program; Assistant, Department of Neurology at Boston Children’s Hospital) gives and upda...

We're bringing our Congenital Heart Walk to Phoenix this year! 🤩❤ Join us on September 21st at Gilbert Regional Park as we walk to raise money for research that will save and improve the lives of babies, children, and adults with congenital heart defects - America's most common birth defect. Register today! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/phoenixaz/

The Children's Heart Foundation Funding the most promising congenital heart defect research so that Heart Warriors everywhere can live longer, healthier lives.

Big Dot of Happiness is proud to help celebrate their "Heartiversarys"! 💕 When you purchase items from their "Heartiversary" collection, 10% of the sale will be donated to The Children’s Heart Foundation to help fund research. Shop at: https://www.bigdotofhappiness.com/collections/happy-heartiversary

The 2024 San Francisco Congenital Heart Walk is THIS WEEKEND! 🤩❤🌟 Join us on Saturday, August 10th at the San Francisco Zoo and get ready for a morning of fun activities, a family-friendly walk, and more! There's still time to register to join us for this free event! Be sure to sign up and fundraise in support of our critical mission - to fund the most promising congenital heart defect research. https://events.chfwalk.org/event/sanfrancisco

Meet Kaylee. ❤

"When I was 19 weeks pregnant, Kaylee was diagnosed with 3rd degree heart block and doctors were concerned she wouldn’t survive to birth. Many weeks of treatments to reduce her chances of hydrops but Her “broken” little heart was in heart failure. She was born at 34 weeks with a heart rate of 57bpm and had slight hydros but she came into this world screaming. She is such a fighter. At 3 days old the cardiac team decided it was time for her to be placed with a pace maker. Kaylee is now 3 years old. She’s had 2 surgeries and will have multiple surgeries in her lifetime. She is 100% paced but her heart is handling everything well. She is a true miracle and such a blessing to us."

The Congenital Heart Walk is coming to Nashville! Participants will:
📅 Register to walk with us on September 21st
👕 Fundraise to receive a 2024 event t-shirt!
👟 Join us on walk day
✅ Enjoy games, music, a family-friendly walk, and more!
❤️‍🩹 Save & improve the lives of children born with congenital heart defects

Register today to be part of the inaugural Nashville Congenital Heart Walk: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/nashville/

The Children's Heart Foundation Funding the most promising congenital heart defect research so that Heart Warriors everywhere can live longer, healthier lives.

We're just ONE WEEK away from the 2024 San Francisco Congenital Heart Walk at the San Francisco Zoo! If you're in the bay area, please register, fundraise, and donate as we work to reach our event goal! ❤ Your support will fund research to help improve outcomes for Heart Warriors everywhere, and honor all Heart Angels. Register at: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/sanfrancisco/

Check out the Congenital Heart Walks taking place this month! 🤩❤ Will you be joining us?! Give your walk team a shout out in the comments below! 👇

Want to join us for a walk near you? Register today to become a fundraising walker or start a team and be part of the nation's premier walk series dedicated to raising funds for research: http://chfwalk.org

The 2024 Cincinnati Congenital Heart Walk is THIS Saturday, August 3rd! 🤩 Join us at the Cincinnati Zoo for fun activities, games, music, refreshments, peace and remembrance, research remarks, and our family-friendly walk as we raise funds for the most promising congenital heart defect research.❤ Want to join us?! Register today: https://events.chfwalk.org/event/cincinnati

Thank you to Us Weekly for stopping by the Los Angeles Congenital Heart Walk to catch up with the Wharton family about their Maya ❤ Read the full article here: https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/how-cory-wharton-taylor-selfridges-relationship-grew-after-baby-maya/