Founded in 2010, HeartGift Louisiana

At HeartGift Louisiana, our mission is to provide life-saving heart surgery to children from around the world.

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Mended Hearts

Jesie’s Story

Jesie was three-months old when doctors diagnosed him with a hole in his heart. The physicians in the Philippines told Mom “Start praying because there is nothing else we can do”.

After seven long years Eva found HeartGift. She arrived with Jesie in February 2018 and following extensive dental work by the LSU Pediatric Dental team his heart was successfully repaired at Children’s Hospital. Three days later Jesie walked out of the hospital with a healthy heart. He is now home in the Philippines finally able to play basketball with the other kids.

Gift’s Story

Three-year old Gift arrived in Louisiana in March 2018 with a dangerously low oxygen saturation rate. She was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a common form of heart disease. Her symptoms were getting worse, and the local physicians in Uganda could not help her. Following her surgery at Children’s Hospital the change was dramatic. This once “blue” little girl was pink and able to run around laughing and singing. She felt so much better that upon her return home she officially changed her name at school from “Gift” to “HeartGift”.

Javier’s Story

Javier spent most of his days either sitting or squatting down because it was the only way his body could get enough oxygen. Physicians in Honduras were able to diagnose his heart defect, but they could not repair it. Thanks to the generosity of ED&F Man, Javier was able to come to New Orleans where doctors at Children’s Hospital successfully repaired his heart earlier this year. No more sitting around for him! Following his surgery Javier and his mother were the guests of honor at a reception hosted by ED&F Man. He was the 21st child they have either fully or partially sponsored.

Jesie
Jesie’s Story

Jesie was three-months old when doctors diagnosed him with a hole in his heart. The physicians in the Philippines told Mom “Start praying because there is nothing else we can do”.

After seven long years Eva found HeartGift. She arrived with Jesie in February 2018 and following extensive dental work by the LSU Pediatric Dental team his heart was successfully repaired at Children’s Hospital. Three days later Jesie walked out of the hospital with a healthy heart. He is now home in the Philippines finally able to play basketball with the other kids.

Gift
Gift’s Story

Three-year old Gift arrived in Louisiana in March 2018 with a dangerously low oxygen saturation rate. She was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a common form of heart disease. Her symptoms were getting worse, and the local physicians in Uganda could not help her. Following her surgery at Children’s Hospital the change was dramatic. This once “blue” little girl was pink and able to run around laughing and singing. She felt so much better that upon her return home she officially changed her name at school from “Gift” to “HeartGift”.

Javier
Javier’s Story

Javier spent most of his days either sitting or squatting down because it was the only way his body could get enough oxygen. Physicians in Honduras were able to diagnose his heart defect, but they could not repair it. Thanks to the generosity of ED&F Man, Javier was able to come to New Orleans where doctors at Children’s Hospital successfully repaired his heart earlier this year. No more sitting around for him! Following his surgery Javier and his mother were the guests of honor at a reception hosted by ED&F Man. He was the 21st child they have either fully or partially sponsored.

Your help is needed more than you know

With your support we will continue to save precious lives, one HeartGift at a time.

News & Events

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Patient Updates

Jallah

Jallah was eight-months old when he came to New Orleans in 2013. He recently graduated from Kindergarten and continues thrive.

Jeran

Jeran was our youngest Louisiana HeartGift child when he arrived in June 2015 at only six-months old. Today is healthy and keeps his mother very busy chasing after him.

Yaszy

Yaszy loves to play dress up and try on different clothes. Future Miss Philippines maybe?

Moufdi

Moufdi spent much of his time before he came to Louisiana in 2014 worried about his health and his heart defect. Four years later, however, he is healthy and focused on being the world’s best big brother!

Staff

Stephanie Berault

Stephanie Berault

Executive Director
Erica Yaeger

Erica Yaeger

Patient Coordinator

Community Impact Board

Our Louisiana chapter is lead by a team dedicated to changing lives

Marye Nickens

Marye Nickens

Louisiana Board Chair
Rick Danielson

Rick Danielson

Vice Chair
Sandra Cahill

Sandra Cahill

Treasurer
Deb Frilot

Deb Frilot

Secretary
Tim Aubin

Tim Aubin

Shelly Breaux

Shelly Breaux

Jonathan Brouk

Jonathan Brouk

Mark W. Brown

Mark W. Brown

Arachu Castro, PhD, MPH

Arachu Castro, PhD, MPH

Rev. Deogratias Ekisa

Rev. Deogratias Ekisa

John Herren

John Herren

Maureen Huguley

Maureen Huguley

Ahmad Jabbar, MD

Ahmad Jabbar, MD

Emad Jabbar

Emad Jabbar

Claire Koch

Claire Koch

Louisiana Board Representative
Katherine C. Miller, MEd, ATC, LAT

Katherine C. Miller, MEd, ATC, LAT

Emily Nykaza

Emily Nykaza

Timothy Pettitt, M.D.

Timothy Pettitt, M.D.

Lyle Pocha

Lyle Pocha

Brent Ramirez

Brent Ramirez

Doris Schutte

Doris Schutte

Meredith Smith

Meredith Smith

You can help make a difference

HeartGift Louisiana can use your help! Contact us today to see how you can help save lives.