The Children's Heart Foundation

10/20/2025

Today we're sharing an article from our friends at the American Heart Association which highlights how modern medicine is changing the prognosis for kids with Down syndrome and heart defects. ❤

Advances in cardiac treatment and care over the past several decades have led to greatly improved long-term survival rates for children born with heart defects – including those with Down syndrome. "Prenatal testing has allowed us to diagnose genetic syndromes and congenital heart defects sooner so that we can treat them sooner," said Dr. Shaun Setty, medical director of pediatric and adult congenital cardiac surgery at Miller's Children's Hospital and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in Long Beach, California. Setty co-authored a recently published American Heart Association scientific statement on congenital heart defects in children with Trisomy 21.

"We're now operating on smaller and smaller babies,"he said. ""In the past, we would wait until the baby was a certain size before we would perform surgery. We now know we want to operate on them sooner because the patients will have better longevity and outcomes." Read more at

Up to half of children with Down syndrome are born with heart defects, but medical advances in recent decades have greatly extended their long-term survival and quality of life.

10/17/2025

NO TRICKS, ALL TREATS! Check out these great fundraising ideas to get you excited for Halloween! 🎃

🧡 Witches Ride: A fun activity in your neighborhood where everyone registers to become a witch on a bike ride. Witches - decorate your bike and yourself for the bike parade with a fundraising fee of $25.
🧡 Pumpkin Carving/Decorating Party: Set up a few tables with an assortment of pumpkin carving tools and/or paint markers, stickers, etc. and let all ages enjoy decorating a pumpkin.
🧡 Halloween Baking Class: Gather friends and family at your home or bakery and bake up some fun spooky sweet treats. Or live-stream the baking class on social media platforms.
🧡 Terrifying Trivia: Make this a friendly, competitive fundraising event by asking your friends and family to create and join teams for a fun, terrifying trivia night!
🧡 Spooky Scavenger Hunt: As Halloween-inspired decorations pop up around your community, a spooky scavenger hunt will get family and friends on their feet and in the Halloween spirit. Check online for great ideas and tools.

10/16/2025

Tulsa & Jacksonville — it’s your weekend to shine! 🌟
We’re walking to fund research that gives kids with congenital heart defects brighter futures. Every dollar, every step, every heart matters. ❤️

Join your local CHD community and help us reach our goals: https://chfwalk.org/

10/15/2025

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. We remember all of the Heart Warriors gone too soon and send love to all of their families. ❤️

10/14/2025

Today, ahead of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, we share the story of Azalea Elizabeth. 🤍 Born Feb 4, 2020, she lived a beautiful two weeks and four days. Azalea passed away Feb. 22, 2020, due to a heart defect called Coarctation of the Aorta.

“When she was born we were not aware of her heart defect,” shares her mom. “She came home as (we thought) a healthy baby girl. When she was born they told us she had a 'heart murmur,' which they expected to go away by her two-week checkup… at her two-week checkup, the "heart murmur" was still there."

They scheduled her an appointment with a cardiologist, over a month away. A few days later, on Feb. 21, notes her mom, “we noticed her breathing was a bit off, she was looking very pale, not eating, and she was sleeping for way too long. I just knew something was not right and took her to the emergency room. Azalea’s heart was failing. She was immediately transferred to a pediatric cardiologist in an ICU. There they were able to get her vitals to rise and things were looking up…and they would soon airlift her to the University of Michigan to have heart surgery.”

Waiting for the helicopter to arrive, they cherished their time with her. “We told her how much we love her and how everything will be okay,” shares her mom.

When they tried to transfer Azalea to the helicopter, her heart stopped.

"They were able to get her breathing again [but] the doctor discussed with us about a machine they could attempt to use on Azalea, which would keep her heart beat going and breathing during the transfer, but there could be a chance she would pass on the ride. We agreed and left again. We got about 10 minutes down the road and I received another phone call from the hospital saying we needed to come back, as they were resuscitating her again. Once we got there, they suggested us to hold her, talk to her and say goodbye," her mom explains. "Azalea passed away peacefully and in my arms. Azalea showed the most strength I have ever seen from a person, even at two weeks old. She inspires me every single day to keep going and to be strong for her. If a newborn baby can go through as much as she did, I can, too."

10/13/2025

Today we want to reintroduce you to Dr. Nancy Ghanayem, Professor of Pediatrics, Chief of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Chicago and Comer Children’s Hospital, and Medical Director of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Advocate Children’s Hospital -- Chair of The Children’s Heart Foundation’s Medical Advisory Council. ❤

Dr. Ghanayem's research interests are in univentricular heart disease, perioperative care/monitoring, ventricular assist devices, outcomes, neurodevelopment. Her clinical interests lie in intensive care medicine, perioperative cardiac care, complex medical care, univentricular heart disease, transitional care, health care quality. We're so grateful for her dedication to the cause and for lending her talents to The Children's Heart Foundation!

10/12/2025

Tickets are on sale now for The Children's Heart Foundation 11th Annual Chicago Gala, Red Tie Ball! ❤️ Join us on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at the Loews Chicago Hotel for an incredible evening and we gather to honor Chicago's leaders in Pediatric Heart Care, while raising funds for the most promising congenital heart defect research.

To purchase tickets, or for more event information, visit

The Children's Heart Foundation is dedicated to funding the most promising research for congenital heart defects. Every donation we receive brings us closer to groundbreaking discoveries that can save lives, provide hope, and improve the quality of life for Heart Warriors and their families.

10/11/2025

Today we're sharing Sutton ❤
"Sutton Jay Harrington was born on August 14th, 2023, with a rare congenital heart defect—double outlet right ventricle with d-malposed great arteries and pulmonary stenosis. We learned of his diagnosis during our 20-week anatomy scan. A few days after Sutton was born, he underwent a heart procedure intended to help him—but instead, his little heart couldn’t handle it. Sutton passed away on August 22nd, 2023.

It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since we last held him. I truly don’t know how we walked out of that hospital without him, or how we’ve survived these past two years. But I do know this—I will spend the rest of my life talking about Sutton and raising funds with The Children's Heart Foundation so that other families may have the chance to watch their babies grow up." -The Harrington Family

10/10/2025

🎉 We did it—100% of our Congenital Heart Walk goal has been reached! ❤️

Thanks to YOU—our walkers, donors, volunteers, and Heart families—we’ve hit this incredible milestone together. Every step, every dollar, and every shared story fuels life-saving congenital heart defect research.

Your support is helping create brighter, healthier futures for all Heart Warriors and Heart Angels. 💗

10/10/2025

Today is World Mental Health Day. Beyond health and medical issues, many people living with congenital heart defects ( ) may experience psychological and social challenges from infancy through adulthood. This includes anxiety, PTSD, and more. Because of this, The Children's Heart Foundation is funding more research on the mental well-being of those impacted by CHDs. Learn more about our research initiatives here: https://bit.ly/3QanOBt

10/09/2025

Heart Angel Cecilia "Cici" Faye Severs was born with a rare and serious congenital heart defect, but her short life left a powerful legacy of love, courage, and hope.❤ In her honor, Cici's parents, Pete and Anna, developed "Cici the Brave" —a tenderly written and beautifully illustrated children's book that honors Cici's journey and the bravery of all Heart Warriors and Heart Angels. "Cici the Brave" is more than just a story - it's a message of awareness, remembrance, and resilience.💕

To learn more, or purchase a copy of the book, visit: https://cicithebrave.com/
💖All proceeds from this book will be donated to The Children's Heart Foundation.

10/09/2025

The 2025 Charleston Congenital Heart Walk is THIS Saturday, October 11th! 🤩❤🌴 We're walking to fuel life-saving CHD research — and we need YOUR help to reach our goal. Every step and every dollar makes a difference. 🙌 Let’s come together to make an impact. Register now & get ready to join us: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/charleston