The numbers are stark: One of 100 children born in the developing world will never see a first birthday because of congenital heart disease, says the International Children's Heart Foundation. And if they do survive, treatment later in life will be difficult or impossible to find.
Such was the case for Judeline, 11, from Haiti. Dr. Ric Bonnell, a frequent participant in medical missions, found her and connected her to HeartGift Fort Worth and Cook Children's Medical Center. She arrived Aug. 14 with her mother, Marie, and a translator. She received her HeartGift on Aug. 16 in a 10-hour surgery. By November, she was able to celebrate her 12th birthday at the Fort Worth Zoo.
"Sometimes babies are born with a heart defect that can be fixed permanently by surgical procedure," says Tim Hanners, chairman of the Fort Worth board. "In Third World countries, however, even though these babies" heart condition is detected, they do not have the facility or surgeons to save them. … Their lives literally are just counting down the days."
HeartGift assumes financial responsibility for medical expenses and coordinates travel, housing arrangements with host families, meals and translator services. Much of the medical expense is performed pro bono. From the time they land until they head home, patients benefit from approximately 800 hours of volunteered time. Local volunteers make HeartGift's mission successful.
"The Cook Children's Heart Center offers state-of-the-art medical, interventional and surgical treatment for children with heart disease, and it means a lot to us that we can share this expertise with the HeartGift patients," said Rich Goode, chief financial officer for Cook Children's.
The HeartGift Foundation is based in Austin with chapters there and in San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans. The Fort Worth chapter, announced in June, is the newest.
"I am very fortunate to have been involved in HeartGift Fort Worth since the inception, but, as I'm sure everyone knows, with a project of this magnitude, this spear had many tips," said Hanners.
"We are blessed with an incredible and passionate board here," he said. "But once you realize what this is all about, there's no selling needed. This is a rare chance to actually see and meet the very child you're helping to save. … We're looking into the eyes of the child who benefits."
Former Fort Worth First Lady Rosie Moncrief is a board member.
"Reese Ryan, son of Nolan and Ruth, was involved with HeartGift in Austin and approached his mom and me and asked if we would be involved with starting a chapter in Fort Worth. That was a slam-dunk," Moncrief said.
There's a Fort Worth connection with Dr. John D. Oswalt, HeartGift Foundation founder and chairman, as well.
"Fort Worth is such a significant place for me," Oswalt said. "It is the place my dad was raised, home of TCU where my entire family attended and now the site of our newest HeartGift chapter. The city embodies warmth and friendship. They proved in true Texas fashion how great they are by accepting a very difficult child to cure and succeeded in numerous ways."
The Foundation was established in July of 2000 in Austin. The charity has served more than 140 children from more than 23 countries on five continents.
