Hole In The Heart

05/29/2026

Pima Medical Institute Teddy Bear Clinic is back — and it’s a FREE indoor event for all ages!

Kids are invited to bring their favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal for a fun hands-on “check-up” experience where they’ll meet healthcare professionals, learn about wellness, and feel more comfortable around medical environments in a safe, welcoming space. 🩺🧸

Think smiles, community vibes, future healthcare heroes, and lots of corazón.

This event is all about:
✨ Reducing fear around healthcare visits
✨ Creating positive family experiences
✨ Inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals
✨ Bringing our comunidad together

If you’re a community partner, please help them SHARE, repost, and invite families to attend. Together we can make a huge impact for our kiddos y nuestra comunidad. 🤝🏽

📍 FREE Indoor Event
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All Ages Welcome
🧸 Bring your favorite stuffed animal

Register here:
https://lnkd.in/gAa4hmFV

Saturday, June 13, 2026. Come enjoy this FREE INDOOR EVENT for children of all ages. Stop in anytime between 10:00am to 2:00pm for snow cones, face painting and more.

05/29/2026

Congratulations to Hole In The Heart on earning the 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid — the highest level of recognition for nonprofit transparency and accountability!

The Platinum Seal is the highest level of recognition from Candid and shows our commitment to transparency, impact, and accountability as we continue advocating for congenital heart defect awareness and timely detection in New Mexico and beyond.

View our Candid profile here: https://app.candid.org/profile/9932430/hole-in-the-heart-85-3439156

05/29/2026

El aumento de peso insuficiente o la falta de crecimiento a veces pueden ser señales de una cardiopatía congénita (CHD) no diagnosticada. Los bebés con CHD pueden tener problemas para alimentarse, cansarse mientras comen o no aumentar de peso como se espera.

Si su bebé se alimenta mal o usted está preocupado por su crecimiento, comuníquese con el médico de su bebé de inmediato. Confíe en sus instintos.

Conozca las señales de advertencia en:
www.HoleInTheHeartASD.org/watch-their-hearts/

05/29/2026

Poor weight gain or failure to thrive can sometimes be a sign of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect (CHD). Babies with CHD may have trouble feeding, get tired while eating, or not gain weight as expected.

If your baby is feeding poorly or you are worried about their growth, contact your baby’s doctor right away. Trust your instincts.

Learn the warning signs at:
www.HoleInTheHeartASD.org/watch-their-hearts/

05/28/2026

You never know who you'll meet in the halls at the US Capitol, where Noah Wyle advocated for improving the lives of healthcare professionals through the Healthcare is Human Rally, and separately, Caitlin Kopp, Hole In The Heart’s favorite nurse, and Sandra Sanchez Fahrlender, founder, shed light on congenital heart defect advocacy. What if a story of a CHD patient shows up on The Pitt?

05/28/2026

🚨 Watch Their Hearts is here! 💙

The first 3 Watch Their Hearts reels are now live on our website and social media pages — along with our PSA — in BOTH English and Spanish! 🎥✨

Topics include:
💤 Extreme sleepiness or low activity
💦 Sweating during feeds or with activity
⚖️ Poor weight gain or failure to thrive

Watch Their Hearts is an initiative created by Hole In The Heart to help with the timely detection of a possibly missed congenital heart defect (CHD) in newborns. Because sometimes the signs are subtle — but awareness can save lives. ❤️

We are excited to share these educational reels with families, providers, community organizations, doulas, midwives, childcare professionals, and anyone who works with expecting or newborn families. We invite you to share them in your clinics, offices, waiting rooms, classrooms, support groups, and communities to help spread CHD awareness and education.

📲 Visit our website to watch and share the reels:
www.HoleInTheHeartASD.org/watch-their-hearts/

Together, we can help families Watch Their Hearts. 💙

05/26/2026

Honoring Sandra Sanchez Fahrlender and Bob Fahrlender, founders of Hole In The Heart and CHD Parent Advocates, along with Caitlin Kopp, MSN, RN, CPN, Healthcare Education Advisor and CHD Family Advocate, for their dedication to raising awareness about congenital heart defects (CHDs) and their impact on families in New Mexico.

Their efforts during the Every 100th Heart National CHD Advocacy Summit held in Washington, DC aimed to build a brighter future for the CHD community, highlighting the importance of investing in CHD care through workforce development in our state. Hole In The Heart is dedicated to raising awareness in New Mexico about the prevalence of CHD and advocating for the local CHD community.

05/26/2026

05/26/2026

Hole In The Heart was honored to attend the Every 100th Heart National CHD Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, representing New Mexico’s CHD community.

Representing Hole in the Heart were Sandra Sanchez Fahrlender & Bob Fahrlender, Founders & CHD Parent Advocate, along with Caitlin Kopp, MSN, RN, CPN, Healthcare Education Advisor and CHD Family Advocate.

New Mexico and Utah teamed up for the day as Hole in the Heart met with healthcare aides from Senator Martin Heinrich, Senator Ben Ray Luján, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, and Rep. Melanie Stansbury to discuss the urgent need for stronger CHD care, research, education, and workforce development in New Mexico.

Caitlin, Sandra and Bob shared personal CHD stories and advocated for continued federal support for CHD research, policies, and improved systems of care.

Sandra also prepared and delivered packets highlighting CHD care in New Mexico, personal stories from NM CHD families, and the NMDOH Birth Defect Surveillance Report.

Advocacy matters. Every conversation helps bring CHD awareness and support for NM families.