Cincinnati Children's Heart Institute

02/20/2026

"At our 20 week anatomy scan we found out about Lucy’s congenital heart defects. We were able to talk with the doctors and tour the CICU in the weeks leading up to Lucy’s arrival. This helped us have a plan in place and better understand what steps were going to be taken to care for Lucy. She had open heart surgery a few days after she was born to fix a large VSD and a coarctation of the aorta. Dr. Tweddell was an amazing surgeon and took such great care of Lucy, as did all the doctors and nurses we had over the course of our 2 1/2 week inpatient stay. Open heart surgery and chest closure surgery are the only two heart surgeries Lucy needed, but over the course of 10 years, she has had a total of 13 surgeries at CCHMC. We are so blessed to have this wonderful hospital in our backyard! This month, Lucy celebrated her 10th birthday and 10th heart surgery anniversary. She is a thriving 4th grader who has the kindest heart. She loves being outside, going to school, playing the cello, building Legos, musicals, and being the best big sister!"

02/20/2026

From his very first days, David battled complex congenital heart challenges, facing multiple surgeries. His strength and determination reflect the very best of coordinated pediatric heart care. Through our partnership with Akron Children's, we’re expanding that same high‑level expertise across Northern Ohio, ensuring more families have access to collaborative, comprehensive heart care closer to home.

🔗 https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/h/heart-surgery/patient-stories/david

02/18/2026

SAVE THE DATE! Camp Joyful Hearts and Family Camp 2026 dates are now HERE!!!

Important things to know:

Registration opens for BOTH camps on March 11th, 2026 at 10am EST on our website. Links can be found below in the comments.

We will be having an informational session for both camps on March 4th, 2026 at 6pm EST. Registration is required and you can sign up here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4o5lGbKKR-6v-FKPoj-CUQ

02/18/2026

A huge THANK YOU goes to the Congenital Heart Alliance of Cincinnati for sending over delicious cookies to the ACCU, CICU, and outpatient staff members!

Happy Heart Month!

02/16/2026

"I was born on March 28, 2000, in Dayton, Ohio, with a rare congenital heart condition called Ebstein’s Anomaly, diagnosed immediately after birth. I was transferred to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where doctors believed I would likely need surgery and might not survive. After weeks in the NICU, my condition unexpectedly improved, and I was able to go home on heart medications.
Through childhood, I faced ongoing challenges. I had allergy asthma, weekly allergy shots, and played soccer despite my heart condition. Around age six, I developed SVT episodes caused by Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, leading to frightening trips to the ER for Adenosine or cardioversion. Two ablation attempts, at ages seven and ten failed, so I was put on Flecainide, which finally kept the SVTs under control.
At eleven, a severe cough and faintness during exercise led doctors to discover worsening tricuspid valve regurgitation and eventually a heart clot. After emergency evaluation in Michigan, doctors determined my heart was failing and that I needed a heart transplant. I was transferred to Cincinnati Children’s and listed as Status 1A.
Thanks to a donor, I received a new heart just nine days later, on March 18, 2012. The transplant was successful, though recovery was long and difficult: heavy medications, rejection scares, biopsies, isolation at the Ronald McDonald House, and major physical and emotional adjustments. My enlarged original heart explained my chronic cough, and it turned out I never had asthma at all.
Slowly, I regained strength, returned home, and continued school with the help of an IEP. Over time, my health stabilized, my academic skills improved, and I was finally able to live without the limitations and dangerous rhythms of my old heart, grateful for the donor who saved my life."

- Payton

02/16/2026

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Heart Health Month

02/13/2026

Our team is transforming care for kids with severe heart valve disease through living allogenic valve replacement, a groundbreaking surgical option that uses donor valve tissue kept alive so it can grow with the child—potentially for a lifetime. This approach reduces the need for repeated valve replacements and offers a long‑lasting, innovative treatment path.

Our Living Allogenic Valve Replacement Program brings together expert pediatric heart specialists across multiple disciplines, and we’re ready to support you and your family every step of the way.

Learn more in this week’s : https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/l/living-allogenic-valve-replacement

02/12/2026

Check this out! Dr. Powell teaches Colton about new CPR guidelines!

02/11/2026

On Saturday, Melissa Magness and Betsy Adler won the Tim Peters Heart of Gold Award at the 7th annual Heart of Gold Memorial Fund gala!

Here is what their nominator said about them:
"It is with great respect and appreciation that I nominate Betsy Adler and Melissa Magness, Nurse Practitioners in the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, for the Tim Peters Heart of Gold Award. Betsy and Melissa consistently demonstrate remarkable compassion, dedication, and creativity in their roles. They are not only outstanding clinicians but also trusted champions for the children and families who rely on their care.
Beyond their clinical responsibilities, Betsy and Melissa are the guiding force behind two life-changing programs: Heart Institute Family Camp and Camp Joyful Hearts. These camps offer children living with heart conditions and the people who love them a chance to connect, relax, and experience joy in an environment where their needs are fully understood and supported.
At Heart Institute Family Camp, they cultivate a welcoming space where families can share experiences, build relationships, and find comfort in a community facing similar challenges. Their efforts help families feel supported, informed, and empowered as they navigate the complexities of congenital and acquired heart conditions.
At Camp Joyful Hearts, Betsy and Melissa devote countless hours to ensuring that children with heart conditions can enjoy a true summer camp experience. Through their careful planning, thoughtful accommodations, and continuous oversight, they make it possible for these kids to participate safely, make new friends, gain independence, and create memories that last well beyond the camp itself.
What truly distinguishes Betsy and Melissa is the depth of their commitment. Their influence reaches far past day‑to‑day medical care, touching the lives of families in deeply meaningful and lasting ways. The communities they’ve helped build through these camps foster resilience, hope, and a sense of belonging for families who often feel isolated by their circumstances.
Betsy Adler and Melissa Magness embody the spirit of the Tim Peters Heart of Gold Award. Their exceptional dedication to both the medical and emotional well‑being of the families they serve makes them extraordinary Nurse Practitioners and extraordinary human beings. Their contributions are invaluable and unquestionably deserving of recognition."

So well deserved, congratulations to Betsy and Melissa!

02/09/2026

Check out this
!

02/06/2026

Today, the Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute proudly joins millions across the country in wearing red to raise awareness for congenital heart disease (CHD) and heart health.