CHD Stories

Stories from those affected by congenital heart defects:

“He inspires us as a family,” that’s how Theresa Bohannan describes her son, Dean. Dean was born with double inlet left ventricle and has undergone three surgeries since birth.

“My greatest goal in life is to give back by saving lives..."

“For so long, it was so hard for me to talk about my health issues. Now, I know how important it is to share my story."

There isn't a moment that goes by that we don't think of Jane. We wonder who she would have been and how she would have played with her sister, Sadie...

The Children’s Heart Foundation has been a lifeline for heart families like mine.”

Having a child with a congenital heart defect is a roller coaster that we will be on for life, but Jayce has opened our eyes to a whole new world—one we would like to share with everyone!

Amina depends on medications and regular checkups, and a heart transplant is the last option for she is not fit for it. In spite of her circumstances, she has embraced life...

I was born with a Congenital Heart Defect called Atrioventricular Canal Defect (AV Canal Defect)...

I remember going to the doctor’s office and the doctor telling us that my daughter had a small hole in her heart...

Now age 63, Mick has learned important life lessons throughout his CHD journey—and he knows they are lessons he must share...

We had become familiar with congenital heart defects through the experience of my dear friend Lindsay. Never once in a million years did we think we would be affected by a CHD too...

In many ways, these eight words tell the life story of Jovie, a three-year-old heart warrior from Arkansas...

By the time he was 16 years old, Mick Landauer had gone through two major heart surgeries, but he didn’t let that stop him from graduating from high school when he was 17 and taking a road trip to Colorado with a friend...

Being a teen, heading in for open heart surgery, especially during a pandemic, is pretty daunting. We’ve never heard a single word of complaint. He’s braved every tough moment...

When Mick was born with a CHD in Davenport, Iowa, he shares, “The doctors told my parents, ‘Your child is going to die.’” That was in 1956. Today, Mick wants CHD families to know there is hope...

From the crown of your head, to the soles of your feet, breath after breath, you crush defeat. I thought I was strong, I thought I was tough, until I met you, who has been through some stuff...

Raising money for this amazing foundation is dear to our hearts. With all of the advanced technology and studies, Heart Warriors all around the world are able to have another chance at life!

The Children's Heart Foundation gives me a "Heart That Hopes" that we will fight CHDs through continued research to see kids like Brianna live a longer and healthier life...

At our 22 week ultrasound, Ahriella was diagnosed with TOF, Pulmonary Atresia, and Trisomy21...

New technology such as stem cells, 3D printing, and heart pumps are currently being tested. This is what gets me excited, this is what helps me stay optimistic, and this is what keeps hope alive...

Like so many babies with CHDs, Bryce spent a great deal of time (five months!) in the hospital. And while he has overcome so much, his father says, “We don’t know how his journey is going to play out, and that’s the scary part.”

My ninja and heart warrior name is The (W)hole Hearted Ninja - because I was born with a hole in my heart and I put my whole heart into ninja warrior!

Although volunteering for the foundation certainly commits me to the mission, I am also committed for another reason very close to my heart -- I myself was one of those children born with a CHD...

We will never give up hope that medical research can advance to a point where children no longer die of open-heart complications...

Our hope is that by funding more research, advancements in treatment can improve and prolong the lives of those impacted by CHDs...

It’s been 13 years now since I heard a doctor say, "there’s something wrong with your baby’s heart", but I still remember every single thing and every single feeling from that day...

The Children’s Heart Foundation and the community it touches are unbelievable. We have met many friends who share similar stories and it’s amazing to feel a sense of belonging...

It is a honor to have run the 2019 New York City Marathon for The Children’s Heart Foundation, CHD patients, and their families...

Our hope is that someday, babies like Liam will live long, full lives and we believe the research funding that The Children's Heart Foundation provides can help make that possible...

We're so thankful to the doctors and families that came before us and paved the path that allowed our son to live a normal life. It's my goal to help the families that come after us in any way I can...

When I was presented the opportunity to run for The Children’s Heart Foundation at the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon, I felt there was no better way to help support the patients and families I care for...

I'm so honored to be running the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon to raise money for CHD research in a race that is part of my earliest memories as a child growing up in NYC...

I am honored to be able to run my 3rd marathon in Oliver's memory while raising funds and awareness for The Children's Heart Foundation...

I am running the 2019 TCS NYC Marathon in loving memory of my nephew Kane. Kane represents 1 in 110 babies born with congenital heart defects (CHDs) each year...

I am so excited to have this opportunity to not only check this goal off of my bucket list, but to do so while raising money for an organization and cause that I am so passionate about...

I am running the 2019 TCS NYC Marathon, along with my sister Nicolle, in loving memory of our nephew Kane...

We never thought we would be at three surgeries in three years. We also didn’t know if Duncan would ever graduate out of therapy, but he is! Slowly, he is catching up to his peers and continues to surprise us daily...

We were honored to run with The Children's Heart Foundation's team in honor of our granddaughter...

I became involved with The Children’s Heart Foundation in 2016 after I realized how many children are faced with congenital heart defects and too many outcomes that are not as positive as Olivia’s...

The nine days leading up to Josiah’s surgery were terrifying and painful, wondering if and when he would be strong enough for his life-saving surgery...

While Noah’s future is uncertain, we know that 20 to 30 years ago, we wouldn’t have had even this much time with him. Through research funded by organizations like The Children’s Heart Foundation, physicians have made great strides in the treatment and prevention of congenital heart disease...

I'm just an ordinary girl, and if I could find the wherewithal to fight for my son's life alone in a foreign country, where I didn't understand the language– then I want ALL heart warriors to know that they've got what it takes to fight the good fight!

This is not the start I thought we would have had with our first baby. Its been a very crazy start, to say the least, but we are handling it day by day...

Now, 3 weeks after surgery, our baby girl is doing well. The echo showed that the hole is completely closed and we couldn’t be happier that our strong girl is going to be ok...

Being that Luna’s condition was so rare, I’m compelled to bring awareness and share her story with the hope that in the future, through research, her diagnosis may have a different outcome. This is why I believe that The Children’s Heart Foundation's dedication to funding research is important and can be life-changing...

In utero, my parents found out that God made me with half a heart. They were given less than 5% that I would make it to full term and less than 2% that I would make it to my first birthday...

My new purpose as his mother is to raise awareness about this very common disease and make sure my boy lives a long and happy life...

The events over the past few years have reiterated a lesson that I thought I had learned long ago; sometimes there are things that you cannot prepare for...

February 10, 2014 is a day that I can never forget. I was 21 weeks along and we went in for a mid-term check-up. Everything had been fine to date, and we had no reason to believe that this appointment would be any different...

Adam was born a beautiful, but very sick little boy. He came into the world on Tuesday Jan 12th, 1995 at 11:54 am. Adam was whisked away from us quite quickly after he was not able to breathe. We did not get to hold him...