The Children's Heart Foundation

10/30/2025

Tickets are on sale for The Children's Heart Foundation's 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. This year's Congenital Heart Defect Champion Award Honorees are Dr. Kristen Nelson McMillan and Dr. Stuart Berger!

To purchase tickets, or for more information about the event, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/2025chfredtieball/

10/30/2025

🌵 Phoenix — it’s your time to shine! 💖
Join us this Saturday, November 1 for the Phoenix Congenital Heart Walk and help raise funds for life-saving congenital heart defect ( ) research.

Every step you take helps fuel breakthroughs that give kids with CHDs brighter, healthier futures. ❤️ https://secure.qgiv.com/event/phoenixaz

10/29/2025

We're pleased to share that Dr. Tracey Crooks has been named the second recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2025 Pediatric Cardiology Research Fellowship Award, supported by a $35,000 educational grant from The Children’s Heart Foundation. ❤

Her research titled “Observational Study of the Impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Function and Proteomic Analysis at 6 months in Exercise Limited Patients with Fontan Physiology” will explore whether Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i)—a cornerstone of adult heart failure treatment—can improve skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and exercise capacity in patients with single ventricle heart disease.

“We believe this research has the potential to identify a modifiable risk factor in a patient population historically excluded from heart failure trials,” said Crooks. “By studying mitochondrial function directly, we hope to better understand how these medications can support patients living with single ventricle physiology.”

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4oOXdbX

10/29/2025

Meet Howard Heller, who's running the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon with CHF ❤ This is why he chose to run for CHD research:
"I'm the proud father of Heart Warrior Noa Gwen Heller. From the moment we found out about the diagnosis at my wife's 20 week scan, our lives were changed forever. On March 4th, 2024, my daughter was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), a congenital heart defect that required immediate medical intervention to save her life called a Balloon Septostomy. She then had an Arterial Switch Operation on March 6th, 2024. Witnessing the amazing care she was given from birth, through to the NICU at NYP, to her surgery, and her recovery, has forever changed me. From the moment of her diagnosis, my family was thrust into the world of congenital heart disease (CHD)—a world filled with uncertainty, immense challenges, and the incredible resilience of heart warriors like my daughter.

Running and fundraising for The Children’s Heart Foundation is deeply personal to me. I have witnessed firsthand the critical importance of CHD research, advanced medical care, and the support networks that help families like mine navigate these difficult journeys. I think of no better use of my time than marrying my passion for athletics/training with a cause that be as deeply personally to me as this one. Not only do I feel like this would be a beautiful way to give back to this great cause, but also a way for me to heal from the tumultuous journey we have been on with Noa so early in her life. I look forward to devoting to an athletic endeavor that will be as fulfilling as this one.

Further, I want to help drive awareness, research, and funding so that children born with CHD can receive the best possible care and live full, healthy lives. Through this marathon, I am not only honoring my daughter’s journey but also giving back to a cause that is now forever a part of my life. This is more than a race—it's a mission to create a brighter future for heart warriors like Noa, everywhere.

Today, Noa is a thriving 1 year old girl who is living a happy, joyful life. I now set course for a journey to do my small part in helping future heart warriors/parents."

10/28/2025

We’re excited to share that The Children’s Heart Foundation and American Academy of Pediatrics have selected the newest Pediatric Cardiology Research Fellowship Awardee— Dr. Michael Jiang of Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital ❤

With support from a $35,000 grant from The Children’s Heart Foundation, Dr. Jiang will study a congenital heart defect that is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac events in children and young adults during exercise. This research will explore new MRI and computer modeling techniques to help doctors evaluate this condition more safely and accurately—potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3LcA30r

10/28/2025

Meet Peyton Gooden - one of 15 runners getting ready to run the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon for The Children's Heart Foundation on November 2nd! ❤👟

She shares why she chose to run with Team CHF: "When I was 26 weeks pregnant, I found out my daughter would be born with a congenital heart defect called Tetrology of Fallot with Pulmonary Artesia. My fiancé & I were both terrified. This isn't what we were expecting going into parenthood and we didn't know what this diagnosis would mean for our daughter.

In September 2023, Josephine was born and her diagnosis was confirmed. And while we knew it was coming, the reality really set in. But because of foundations like The Children's Heart Foundation, and the people who spend so much time and energy researching CHDs, we tackled every obstacle with an abundance of hope.
Josie had her open heart surgery at 7 weeks old. She ended up on ECMO, a true form of life support, the next day. She remained on ECMO for 5 days, her chest left cut open for 10, sedated, intubated, and paralyzed for 14. A total of 99 days in the cardiac ICU after birth.

I am so fortunate to have been selected to run with the CHF because their mission is so personal to me. Because of their work, Josie's life expectancy is much longer and her quality of life is much greater.

Being a heart mom is far from easy, but I would do it a million times again for her and I am thrilled to be playing a small role in raising money to advance the research of congenital heart defects and to use this as an opportunity to continue advocating for her and all of the heart friends we've made along the way.

Josephine has proven to be the definition of perseverance & resilience. She is smart, feisty, and braver than I'll ever be. I am so proud to be her mama and I am so excited to run my first marathon for her." ❤

10/27/2025

This powerful video showcases the inspiring journeys of three who are thriving today because of advacnements made through research. Witness their powerful stories and dreams for the future of CHD research—proof that every breakthrough brings hope. ❤ THIS is why we are committed to our single mission: funding the most promising congenital heart defect research.

10/26/2025

ONE WEEK from today, on November 2nd, 15 runners will take on the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon for The Children's Heart Foundation to raise funds and awareness for research ❤ Together, our team has already raised more than $62,000!!

Check out their stories and support their efforts by visiting

The Children's Heart Foundation works to advance the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of congenital heart defects (CHDs) by funding the most promising research. You can help us unlock the unknowns related to the most common birth defect in the U.S. and around the world. Learn more about us and h...

10/24/2025

Do you have a special Heart Warrior, Angel, or occasion you'd like to honor in a unique way? A tribute gift to The Children's Heart Foundation offers a meaningful and impactful way to honor a person or occasion, or memorialize a loved one. These gifts generously drive our mission of funding the most promising congenital heart defect research. ❤

To learn more or make a tribute gift, please visit us here: https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/get-involved/tribute-gifts.html

10/23/2025

This weekend, we’re walking in Washington DC and San Antonio! ❤️ 👟
Every step we take helps fund life-saving CHD research — and we’re so close to our goal! Let’s walk, give, and make an impact together. 🙌

👉 Register now and join the movement: https://chfwalk.org/

10/22/2025

💓 Why I Run for CHD Research: Her Name is Elliot Grace 💓

At 21 weeks pregnant, Melissa learned her daughter Elliot had only half a heart. Doctors told her not to continue the pregnancy—but she chose hope.

Elliot endured three open-heart surgeries before the age of 3. Now 10 years old, she’s thriving, resilient, and full of life. But living with CHD means daily medications, constant monitoring, and an uncertain future.

That’s why Melissa is running the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon with The Children's Heart Foundation—for Elliot and for every child born with a congenital heart defect. 🏃‍♀️❤️

Read their full story and see why funding CHD research is so critical: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/endurance2025tcsnewyorkcitymarathon/account/2023916/

10/21/2025

Today we're shining a light on Cici and her incredible family. ❤ Cecilia "Cici" Faye Severs was born on August 29, 2024, at just 33 weeks—a tiny fighter from the start. Shortly after her arrival, her family received life-changing news: Cici had been born with a congenital heart defect called truncus arteriosus. Despite her incredible strength and the tireless efforts of her medical team, Cici passed away on October 8th, surrounded by her parents and grandparents.

Her family is now honoring Cici’s legacy by supporting the work of The Children’s Heart Foundation in order to fund additional - and much-needed - CHD research.

"As one of the doctors told us, although treatment for congenital heart disease has improved drastically over the last 50 years, the science is still relatively new, and there are still kids like Cici who manage to puzzle and challenge the doctors. Some procedures, like her flow restrictor placement, are still developing rapidly and there are currently no devices designed for babies and children, and the surgeons must manipulate equipment designed for adults." 💕

Read more of Cici's story here: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/myfundraiser/account/1877956/