The Children's Heart Foundation

This #WomensHistoryMonth, we're proud to share women who are doing incredible things ? Koko's Candles is owned and operated by Janeen Kokodynski in Scottsdale, Arizona. After losing her one month old son Matthew to a congenital heart defect (#CHD) in 2005, Janeen worked tirelessly with The Children’s Heart foundation to fundraise while also creating awareness. In 2017, she combined her love of candle making with her commitment to this nonprofit and Koko’s Candles was born. At Matthew's funeral, hammered pewter hearts were passed out. These hearts were slightly misshapen and imperfect - just like Matthew's. When Janeen launched her company, she knew she wanted to incorporate these hearts into her candle line. Before each candle is poured, a small heart is placed at the bottom. After the candle has burned, you may remove the heart and place it in your change purse or pocket to serve as a reminder that you are loved.? A portion of the profits from each candle is donated to The Children's Heart Foundation. Shop here: https://kokoscandles.com/

The Children's Heart Foundation recently funded a research project by Yun Zhang (Columbia University Irving Medical Center) called, “Advancing Neonatal Tetralogy of Fallot Care with a Comprehensive Evaluation Framework”. Tetralogy of Fallot (#ToF) is a common congenital heart defect, but predicting health risks for babies with severe ToF remains challenging. Using data from over 570 babies across the U.S., researchers are developing a new system to group patients by risk and create a scoring method that provides a complete health assessment. This will help doctors better predict outcomes and personalize treatments, ultimately improving care and quality of life for babies with ToF. ?

This powerful video debuted at the 2025 Hearts that Hope Gala in St. Louis, showcasing the inspiring journeys of three #HeartWarriors who are thriving today because of research. Witness their powerful stories and dreams for the future of CHD research—proof that every breakthrough brings hope. ?

The Children's Heart Foundation recently funded a new research project by Robert Tranquillo at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities called "Growing Transcatheter Pulmonary Stent Valve for Congenital Heart Disease”. About 20% of congenital heart disease cases require heart valve replacements, but current valves don’t grow with the child, leading to multiple risky surgeries. To solve this, researchers are developing a transcatheter valve—delivered to the heart instead of open heart surgery—that can grow and self-repair using the child’s own cells. Made from a special biological material and a flexible stent, this valve could provide a lifelong solution, with testing first in a pilot study with lambs if preclinical testing proves successful.

Today is #InternationalWomensDay, a day we come together to honor and celebrate all women and their achievements.?? ?? We celebrate your bravery, #HeartWarriors and #HeartMoms! ? We celebrate your tenacity, scientists and researchers! ???? We celebrate your kindness, nurses and doctors ?? Please join us and tell us about women in your life that you are celebrating today!

Align your business with a cause that changes lives! By sponsoring your local Congenital Heart Walk, you’ll support vital congenital heart defect research, raise awareness for America's most common birth defect, and connect with a passionate community. It’s a powerful way to give back, boost visibility, and show your commitment to making a difference. Join us in creating a brighter future for Heart Warriors—let’s walk together! ?? Learn more about sponsorship opportunities today by finding a walk near you at https://chfwalk.org/

Spring is right around the corner, which means walk season is too! We invite you to join us in creating hope for every heartbeat by participating in our family-friendly events happening nationwide! ?? Whether you're walking in honor of a Heart Warrior, in memory of a loved one, or simply to support our cause, you're part of a powerful movement changing the future of CHD care. Register today and walk with us toward a future where every heart beats stronger! https://chfwalk.org/

The Children’s Heart Foundation is proud to return as a Charity Partner of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon! We have 15 spots available for runners to join Team Hearts that Race for The Children's Heart Foundation.? The application to join our 2025 TCS NYC Marathon team is NOW OPEN! Click here to view and complete the application: https://bit.ly/41wceGJ *Deadline to apply is March 19th. Please pass this along to anyone you know who may be interested!

Meet Dr. Melissa Nater ? Dr. Nater is a pediatric cardiologist and cardiac intensivist at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Born and raised in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, Dr. Nater moved to Chicago to complete her fellowship in pediatric cardiology and never left, committed to addressing the need for bilingual physicians to serve the vast Hispanic patient population in the Chicagoland area. We're thrilled to feature Dr. Nater in our 2024 Class of Extraordinary Women Leaders. When asked "Why is CHD research important to you?", Dr. Nater said: "I have personally witnessed the impact of CHD research across various areas, such as cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology, and the management of patients in the cardiac ICU, encompassing medication administration and protocol development to ensure the safety of our youngest patients. My career is a testament to the courageous researchers who prioritized patient safety and understood that studies on adults were insufficient for our CHD patient group." #WomensHistoryMonth

March Newsletter: Celebrating Women’s History Month & Welcoming Spring!