Hopeful Hearts

WHAT, HOW AND WHY

What we do: We help families with children suffering from congenital heart disease by providing financial support. We also strive to raise awareness of CHD along with funds for research -- with the end goal of improving the outcomes for those affected by CHD.

Hopeful Hearts in the Community. We provide support for family's battling CHD, by delivering care packages to the local hospitals and work directly with leading physicians on their research and projects.

How we do it: Through private donations, corporate sponsorships, in-kind donors, and the generosity of people like you.

Why: The immense financial strain that heart surgeries and continuing medical care place on a family are crushing. If we can help to alleviate some of the enormous strain, we've accomplished a bit. If we can raise funds and awareness of CHD and move toward research and prevention, we will have accomplished a lot.

ABOUT CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

CHD describes a number of different problems affecting the heart. It is the mostcommon type of birth defect and is responsible for more deaths in the first year of life than any other birth defect. Congenital heart disease can present innewborn infants or older children in a variety of different ways. Cyanotic forms of CHD typically present primarily with blue discoloration caused by a relative lack of oxygen; examples include tetralogy of Fallot and tricuspid atresia, among many others. Acyanotic forms of CHD may have some blue discoloration, but typically present primarily with rapid breathing and poor feeding; examples include coarctation of the aorta and ventricular septal defect, among many others. Either form of CHD may require early neonatal intervention.detection.

FAQS AND FIGURES

Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 birth defect worldwide
Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths worldwide
About 1 out of every 100 babies born each year in the United States have some type of Congenital Heart Defect (approximately 40,000/year)
Nearly twice as many children die from Congenital Heart Defects in the United States each year than from all forms of childhood cancers combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for Congenital Heart Defects
Each year worldwide 100,000 babies (under one year old) will not live to celebrate their first birthday
Although some babies will be diagnosed during gestation or at birth, sometimes the diagnosis is not made until days, weeks, months, or even years after. In some cases, CHD is not detected until adolescence or adulthood
It is a proven fact that the earlier CHD is detected and treated, the more likely the affected child will survive and have less long term health complications

RESOURCES

Education: [view sources]
Helen Taussig Children's Heart Center at Johns Hopkins University provides good animated color diagrams with basic information for parents.

Congenital Heart Defects: [view sources]
Information and resources for the CHD community including questions and comments, resources, messageboard, medical definitions, and more.

California Heart Connection: [view sources]
Non-profit support network that provides information and resources to families with congenital heart defects. Also works with the medical community to share up-to-date information and generate public awareness to promote early detection of CHDs.

CHD H.E.A.R.T: [view sources]
Hope for MORE tomorrows! A touching site that is put out by parents of children with CHD and those interested in raising awareness of CHD, see videos.

The Ronald McDonald House: [view sources]
Supports the health and well-being of children by providing a "home away from home" for families of seriously ill children who are receiving care in Southern California.

Caringbridge: [view sources]
Free, personalized websites that support and connect loved ones during critical illness, treatment and recovery.

Carepages: [view sources]
Share your story ~ build your support circle. Free patient blogs that connect friends and family during a health challenge.

Camp del Corazon: [view sources]
Non-profit organization dedicated to providing experiential program for children and families living with heart disease. All programs are offered free-of-charge and staffed completely by volunteer counselors, nurses and physicians of their hearts to help these special kids.

Songs of Love: [view sources]
A nonprofit organization that creates original personalized songs free of charge, for children and teens facing tough medical challenges.

My Heart vs. the Real World: Children with Heart Disease, In Photographs & Interviews (Hardcover): [view sources]
My Heart vs. the Real World is a photo documentary volume that explores the lives of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) through striking black-and-white photographs and interviews with subjects and their families.

Carepages: [view sources]
Share your story ~ build your support circle. Free patient blogs that connect friends and family during a health challenge.

Camp del Corazon: [view sources]
Non-profit organization dedicated to providing experiential program for children and families living with heart disease. All programs are offered free-of-charge and staffed completely by volunteer counselors, nurses and physicians of their hearts to help these special kids.

Songs of Love: [view sources]
A nonprofit organization that creates original personalized songs free of charge, for children and teens facing tough medical challenges.

My Heart vs. the Real World: Children with Heart Disease, In Photographs & Interviews (Hardcover): [view sources]
My Heart vs. the Real World is a photo documentary volume that explores the lives of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) through striking black-and-white photographs and interviews with subjects and their families.