ABOUT US
THE NEED
The Healing Hearts Project exists to support patients and families from Wolfson Children's Hospital and UF Pediatric Cardiology in Jacksonville, FL, who are affected by congenital heart disease (CHD).
1% OF JACKSONVILLE AREA BABIES ARE BORN WITH CHD.
1 OUT OF 3 OF THOSE CHILDREN WILL HAVE A COMPLEX CHD REQUIRING INTERVENTION. 425 CARDIAC CATHS WERE PERFORMED IN 2018 AT WOLFSON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOR THESE PATIENTS AND 236 OPEN HEART SURGERIES. PATIENTS STAY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 1-2 DAYS POST HEART CATH ON AVERAGE AND 10 DAYS ON AVERAGE FOR OPEN CHEST SURGICAL REPAIRS.
(STATISTICAL DATA PROVIDED BY WOLFSON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL)
OVER 100 CARE PACKS GIVEN ANNUALLY
SURGERY DAY CHECKLISTS AND SUPPORT INFO PROVIDED AT PRE-OP APPTS
OVER 100 MEALS GIVEN ANNUALLY IN THE CARDIAC ICU
OVER 400 FAMILIES IN OUR PRIVATE SUPPORT GROUP WITH ACCESS TO OUR CONTINUED CARE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND FAMILY EVENTS
PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY A DEDICATED GROUPS OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
$6500 IN HEART CART ITEMS UTILIZED IN THE CARDIAC ICU BY FAMILIES WE SERVE
OPTIMIZE HOSPITAL SUPPORT BY SENDING 2 NURSES TO AN ANNUAL CHD CONFRENCE
THE INSPIRATION
Kennedy and Hope are just two years apart and both were diagnosed in the womb with a congenital heart defect (CHD). When mothers, Stacey and Joy connected, Kennedy had just recovered from her open heart surgery and Hope had just been diagnosed with a CHD. Immediately, a “heart mom” bond was created, revealing the priceless value of having someone alongside you that just “gets it."
This friendship is what inspired Stacey and Joy's vision for The Healing Hearts Project. With a desire to not only heal the hearts of the affected, but their families as well, their hope is to help local families connect through a community of support. They are honored to be a part of this group and hope you can join this group in making a difference for these precious children and their families.
