Over one million children are born each year with a congenital heart defect, most in areas where medical resources are scarce or non-existent. Congenital heart defect is the most common birth defect in the world, more common than childhood cancer. In industrialized countries, the corrective surgery is accessible and provided regardless of financial capacity or geographic location. In other parts of the world, children may not have access and cannot sustain life without treatment. HeartGift exists to address this disparity of care, and is making an impact globally and locally. HeartGift has provided more than 800 free life-saving surgeries to children from around the world. More than 800 children who now live healthy lives thanks to one surgery that they may not have received without HeartGift’s support.
Caring for the world’s most vulnerable children
HeartGift provides life-saving heart surgeries to children around the world with congenital heart defects in the United States, Asia, Africa, and South America.
The children we serve need just one surgery but it’s not available where they live.
Dedicated pediatric hospitals, talented surgeons, and medical staff who donate their time and talents, as well as a diverse network of sponsors and volunteers, make HeartGift’s hundreds of free procedures possible.
The HeartGift journey is full of desperation, anxiety, and fear for parents who take a leap of faith to find care for their child.
This journey is also full of joy, relief, and is an answered prayer once hearts are mended. Children come to HeartGift very ill, struggling to breathe, and failing to thrive. Post-surgery, they have fully-functioning hearts and a lifetime of opportunity ahead!
Surgeries are provided around the world through:
– Partnerships with children’s hospitals in the United States, Africa, Asia, and South America
– Through medical mission trips
The severity of the child’s illness determines where they receive care and the cost of surgery.
The cost of each surgery ranges from $5,000-$25,000.
With each surgery, a life is saved, a heart is mended, and a child is given an opportunity to live a life without limits. Our supporters have the opportunity to be directly involved in saving a child’s life.
In order to qualify for a surgery through HeartGift, a child must:
- Be 14 years old or younger
- Not have undergone previous cardiac surgery
- Have a biventricular condition that can be repaired in one operation
- Have no chromosomal abnormalities
- Have an urgent need for surgery
- Live in a developing country without access to proper treatment
Our program model is built to accept children that do not need intensive medical follow-up after surgery. We recognize that any follow-up care may not be available nor do they have the financial resources to continue it.
“Involving HeartGift in the trip to Bolivia has provided the support and organization to stabilize an effort that was often difficult to sustain from year to year. The feedback has been instrumental in helping map out future improvements and sustainability for this medical mission. Twenty one children now have a brighter future and we couldn’t have done it without HeartGift.”