Heartfest, Inc.
My name is Elizabeth Todd. I am 11 years old & I was born with a condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). What that means is that I was born without the left half of my heart. To date, I have had three open heart surgeries to “replumb” my heart so that the right side does all the work. This is not a cure! Today, I am doing really well! I am in 5th grade now & I love school. I also dance, do gymnastics and love nothing more than playing with my friends & family.
It is the mission of Heartfest, Inc. to provide funding for dedicated research on the cause and prevention of Congenital Heart Defects and support initiatives that extend or enrich the lives of kids like me.
Our mission is to
raise money to fund
promising research, and
offer scholarships to families
so they can attend Family
Heart Camp, where they get
the support they need to
learn to live life as a
"Heart Family".
.
Heartfest, Inc is a
501c3 nonprofit organization
Tax ID# 81-4027629
This year we continued to fund the development of a drug called cangrelor that is used to prevent blood clots from forming in infants following heart surgery (like the one that Elizabeth had when she was one month old). You can watch a video about this drug development from this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A19d-C1nEsI
We also funded a study looking at long-term neurodevelopmental issues in CHD kids following heart surgery. The purpose is to understand whether genetics or surgical techniques lead to brain abnormalities, and to ensure normal cognitive development through early intervention. We remain humbled and incredibly grateful for your continued support of Heartfest.
With love and gratitude,
Heidi Todd, Chris Todd, Nicole Cleland
Half a Heart, Full of Hope