Jessie's Heart Foundation

Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) is a leading cause of birth defect associated infant illness and death. One out of every 100 babies born today has some form of CHD. Fifty percent require more invasive surgeries in their lifetime to survive.

JC, Founder of Jessie's Heart knows personally the anxiety that comes with having a child diagnosed with a congenital heart defects. While many of us can maintain healthy hearts through life style choices, being born with a heart defect is not a choice. And, making your child's care your top priority is also not a choice. Neither are the costs associated with care, some are covered by insurance, but many are not. Like the cost of flying in a family member to care for other siblings while mom and dad are at the hospital, or traveling 4-6 hours one-way to the hospital, let alone stays at hotels to be close to the hospital during extended treatments or surgeries.

All of this adds up and can be overwhelming. Jessie's Heart provides financial relief to families for these types of costs. Helping to lessen some of the burden parents might be facing so they can focus on the well-being of their family.

Testimonials

Sara is a 3-month-old baby that was transferred to our Colorado Children's Hospital from out of state for surgical repair of a heart defect.  The single mother and her baby were transported via med flight where Sara was hospitalized for 14 days.  They were from a rural area out of state that is a 9-hour drive from Colorado and the mother was on unpaid maternity leave. Jessie’s Heart helped her with getting gas cards so that a family member could come to Colorado and help support with discharge and driving them home.  Jessie’s Heart also provide gift card for groceries so that mom had some food during her stay with Sara through surgery and recovery. 

It is hard to describe the look on a parents' face when we tell them that we are able to relieve some of this financial burden for them. We are so fortunate that Jessie's Heart can provide families with some financial relief. When we're able to offer a gas card, meal vouchers, plane tickets and hotel rooms, our families immediately feel a burden lifted from their shoulders. They express their gratitude to us on a daily basis. One family told me that this financial assistance is "like an angel on our shoulder during our family tragedy."
                                    - Amy Stevens, Social Worker, Children's Hospital Colorado