Heart problems in children are surprisingly common. They are, in fact, the most common type of birth defect and the number one cause of death during the first year of life. Nearly twice as many children die from congenital heart disease in the United States each year as die from all forms of childhood cancers combined. –Children’s Heart Foundation

I attend a lot of events, be they in the daytime, afternoon, or at night; and – especially in the case of philanthropic affairs – they tend to include a testimonial, or video, or some such thing that is produced and shared with the intention of tugging at our proverbial heart-strings (and thereby loosening our purse-strings).  But until the Children’s Heart Foundation’s inaugural Hearts for Charitea, last month; I can’t recall ever having attended a function where the organizers were so cognizant of this, that they’d mise-d multiple packages of Kleenex into the scène of every table (not to mention creating a ziggurat of Kleenex Pocket-Packs, that was displayed on the Check-In table). I mean, you’ve gotta really be planning for a tear-jerker, if you’ve gone and partnered with Kleenex! 

The luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, that afternoon, was honoring as “Philanthropist of the Year” my dear friend Dena duBoef-Roth, whose daughter (the so friggin’ cute you could eat her with a spoon, Caroline Roth) had been diagnosed (in utero, mind you!) with the congenital heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot. 

Now, before Dena was introduced, there was a delicious tea service, including scones, clotted cream, jams, and petit-fours.  And before that even commenced, per a directive from Myra Greenspun, I was forced to avail myself of one of the colorful miniature hats and fascinators, on display outside of the ballroom (it was a High Tea, after all).  Sure, I looked ridiculous; but what else is new?

I took my seat, at the table of my darling Dawn Hume, and chatted with the amiable Mark Cornelson (who was riding high after having successfully produced the nuptials of Abbie & Jim Snyder, earlier that month, in The Mansion at MGM Grand), and his partner at The Ride, Milo Miloscia.  It was around this time, that Dawn gestured to a pack of Kleenex on our table, and I let out a chortle (or was it a guffaw?).  How was I to know that a mere fifteen minutes later, I’d be tearing-open the plastic on said Kleenex, and wiping the tears from my eyes?

Dena got up to the podium, and spoke eloquently and passionately, about the fear she and husband, Dr. Jeffrey Roth felt for their then-unborn child; about the relief that came from both finding their pediatric cardiologist and from being contacted by Children’s Heart Foundation; the anger they felt toward the insurance companies that were denying coverage – not just to Caroline, but many other Valley families, as well; and how, even with all of the means and options at their disposal, if not for CHF, they weren't sure where their family would be, today.

Dena explained how of the 96 million people affected by birth defects; slightly more than half of them (48.6 million) suffer from congenital heart defects.  Tetralogy of Fallot occurs in roughly 1 out of every 2,000 newborns, making it the most common complex congenital heart defect. *

Now, as mentioned earlier, Caroline’s case is not an isolated one; which is why we are so luck to have the Children’s Heart Foundation (and the Children’s Heart Center**) here, in Nevada.  CHF has four goals: (1) Family Support – lending support to families dealing with the emotional and financial toll of a child’s heart condition; (2) Community Education – educating healthcare professionals (as well as the general public) about pediatric cardiology issues; (3) Camp Mend-a-Heart – providing a carefree Camp experience, for kids with heart conditions; and (4) CHD Research – supporting research in the area of pediatric cardiology.

What both interested and upset me was hearing that CHD affects nearly 200% as many children as do all forms of childhood cancers combined; yet CHD receives only 20% as much funding.  This is in no way saying that the monies going to research and treat childhood cancers is not warranted; but rather that we as a community/country/what-have-you must step up our game, with regards to Congenital Heart Disease.  I think if that were to happen, my heart would truly be full.

Inaugural Hearts for Charitea
Children’s Heart Foundation

Click HERE for info

Get into it!
#CHFN

[Editor’s Notes: * An abridged list of some famous folks living with congenital heart defects includes Team USA’s three-time Olympic gold medalist, Shaun White (Tetralogy of Fallot), singer Miley Cyrus (Tachycardia), three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi (repaired Atrial Septal Defect), MMA fighter, Mark “The Shark” Miller (Aortic Stenosis), Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell (Ventricular Septal Defect), singer and current Channing Tatum paramour, Jessie J (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome), Poison’s Bret Michaels (Patent Foramen Ovale), Ice Castles actor, Robby Benson (Bicuspid Aortic Valve), and "The Governator" himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger (Bicuspid Aortic Valve).  A few of the people we have lost to congenital heart defects are The Clash’s Joe Strummer (undiagnosed CHD), Jethro Tull’s John Glascock (CHD complications), and Three’s Company actor, John Ritter (undiagnosed CHD) // ** One of the largest Congenital Cardiology practices in the US, and the only one in Nevada; Children’s Heart Center was established in 1980, and counts on its team 13 pediatric cardiologists, a pair of congenital heart surgeons, and a nursing department and staff of more than 100.]