BATTLE ON
Heart Warriors.
If you want to earn the title of "warrior," you have to go through the battle. You have to go to war. You need to have some fight in you—something that keeps you putting one foot in front of the other, something that pushes you forward. For some, that battle looks like open-heart surgery—tubes, echoes, appointment after appointment, therapy after therapy. It's living your life despite what you've been through and what you continue to endure, just to be here.
Imagine fighting a war that's invisible to those around you. As long as your shirt is on, your scars are covered. Most people haven't even heard of the battle you're fighting every day.
As we raise awareness of the CHD battle, we invite you to meet some of the warriors whose families we stand with. Battle on.
HEART WARRIORS
Battle On.
HEART WARRIORS
Warrior Wednesday.
Heart warriors - we want to celebrate you!
Help us spread CHD awareness by sharing your story and we may feature you as our Wednesday Warrior on social media!
Featured Warriors.
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Andrew M.
BORN WITH TRUNCUS ARTERIOSUS
TWO OPEN HEART SURGERIES“Being told our child would not be here without advancements in CHD drives our passion and mission to help continue research so more families can have better outcomes.”
-Andrew’s parents, Jodie and Drew
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Callie M.
BORN WITH TRUNCUS ARTERIOSUS
FOUR OPEN HEART SURGERIES“CHD is a hidden disease that is severely underfunded. We have seen things that no parent should as we watched doctors fight to get her heart beating. You would never know what Callie has endured.”
-Callie’s mom, Jessica
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Cooper C.
BORN WITH ATRIOVENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT
OPEN HEART SURGERY AT THREE MONTHS“Handing our child over for open heart surgery was one of the scariest, most helpless moments as parents. Cooper went into heart failure, and thanks to CHD research he was able to have surgical repair and live a successful and healthy life.”
-Cooper’s mom, Emily
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Emily B.
BORN WITH DOUBLE OUTLET RIGHT VENTRICLE, COMPLETE AVSD & PULMONARY ATRESIA
OPEN HEART SURGERY AT 10 MONTHS & TWO STENTS“Our warrior was given a zero percent chance of ever ‘taking a breath outside of the womb,’ due to extremely complex congenital heart defects. Through incredible research & funding for CHD & her perseverance today she is a thriving & energetic little girl who brings joy to everyone!”
- Emily’s parents, Dana & Brent
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Hutch H.
BORN WITH ATRIOVENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT & LATER DIAGNOSED WTIH PULMONARY VEIN STENOSIS
FIVE OPEN HEART SURGERIES“The Brett Boyer Foundation has been a guiding light as we've navigated a very complex cardiac journey with our son. They have provided so much hope and comfort for families like ours.”
-Hutch’s mom, Autumn
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Jacob B.
BORN WITH HYPOPLASTIC RIGHT HEART SYNDROME
THREE OPEN HEART SURGERIES“Discovering at 22 weeks that my child would be born with half a heart was undeniably terrifying, But to witness his determination and ability to defy the odds has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. Today Jacob is living life to the fullest and that wouldn’t be possible without CHD research.”
-Jacob’s mom, Becky
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Lachlan L.
BORN WITH HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME
HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT“At 29 weeks pregnant, we learned Lachlan would need a heart transplant at birth to survive. Due to recent CHD research, his doctors determined that, given his heart anatomy, he couldn’t survive the standard surgeries for HLHS. That research saved his life.”
-Lachlan’s mom, Ally
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Owen M.
BORN WITH TRUNCUS ARTERIOSUS
RECIPIENT OF WORLD’S FIRST PARTIAL HEART TRANSPLANT“Discovering your child doesn't meet the requirements for conventional treatments is heart wrenching. Knowing there is hope thanks to ongoing research feels like an incredible miracle.”
-Owen’s dad, Nick
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Andrew M.
BORN WITH TRUNCUS ARTERIOSUS
TWO OPEN HEART SURGERIES“Being told our child would not be here without advancements in CHD drives our passion and mission to help continue research so more families can have better outcomes.”
-Andrew’s parents, Jodie and Drew
-
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Callie M.
BORN WITH TRUNCUS ARTERIOSUS
FOUR OPEN HEART SURGERIES“CHD is a hidden disease that is severely underfunded. We have seen things that no parent should as we watched doctors fight to get her heart beating. You would never know what Callie has endured.”
-Callie’s mom, Jessica
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Cooper C.
BORN WITH ATRIOVENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT
OPEN HEART SURGERY AT 3 MONTHS“Handing our child over for open heart surgery was one of the scariest, most helpless moments as parents. Cooper went into heart failure, and thanks to CHD research he was able to have surgical repair and live a successful and healthy life.”
-Cooper’s mom, Emily
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Emily B.
BORN WITH DOUBLE OUTLET RIGHT VENTRICLE, COMPLETE AVSD & PULMONARY ATRESIA
OPEN HEART SURGERY AT 10 MONTHS & TWO STENTS“Our warrior was given a zero percent chance of ever ‘taking a breath outside of the womb,’ due to extremely complex congenital heart defects. Through incredible research & funding for CHD & her perseverance today she is a thriving & energetic little girl who brings joy to everyone!”
- Emily’s parents, Dana & Brent
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Hutch H.
BORN WITH ATRIOVENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT & LATER DIAGNOSED WTIH PULMONARY VEIN STENOSIS
FIVE OPEN HEART SURGERIES“The Brett Boyer Foundation has been a guiding light as we've navigated a very complex cardiac journey with our son. They have provided so much hope and comfort for families like ours.”
-Hutch’s mom, Autumn
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![]()
Jacob B.
BORN WITH HYPOPLASTIC RIGHT HEART SYNDROME
THREE OPEN HEART SURGERIES“Discovering at 22 weeks that my child would be born with half a heart was undeniably terrifying, But to witness his determination and ability to defy the odds has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. Today Jacob is living life to the fullest and that wouldn’t be possible without CHD research.”
-Jacob’s mom, Becky
-
![]()
Lachlan L.
BORN WITH HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME
HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT“At 29 weeks pregnant, we learned Lachlan would need a heart transplant at birth to survive. Due to recent CHD research, his doctors determined that, given his heart anatomy, he couldn’t survive the standard surgeries for HLHS. That research saved his life.”
-Lachlan’s mom, Ally
-
![]()
Owen M.
BORN WITH TRUNCUS ARTERIOSUS
RECIPIENT OF WORLD’S FIRST PARTIAL HEART TRANSPLANT“Discovering your child doesn't meet the requirements for conventional treatments is heart wrenching. Knowing there is hope thanks to ongoing research feels like an incredible miracle.”
-Owen’s dad, Nick