Bright Heart Month – 2021: Major Milestones Were Hit for the Congenital Heart Defects Community!

03Mar

By Linda PilkintonMarch 12, 20210Uncategorized

In February, Bright Heart Foundation hosted an entire month of dedicated CHD initiatives that included:

Spreading CHD Awareness
Launching a Fundraising Campaign
Unveiling a Mural with Local Artist and Heart Dad, Eric “Mobeoner” Bass
Creating a Petition for Change
Hosting a Heart Healthcare Heroes Event
Teaming Up with Moms On Call and our TN CHD Coalition for Free Virtual Sessions
Showcasing Our CHD Community with Support Spotlights
Creating A CHD Advocacy Collection of Merchandise with Codeword and Sevenly

1,000+ Voices Have Demanded More Resources and Funding From The American Heart Association

Because of all of YOUR support and feedback through our Bright Heart Month petition, we are not in productive talks with the American Heart Association. Bright Heart Foundation is calling for a focus on Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) initiatives that include but are not limited to:

1) CHD Research Funding

2) CHD Support Groups

3) CHD Awareness

We look forward to continued conversations and progress with the American Heart Association on behalf of the entire Congenital Heart Defects community – from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood. Together, we can continue to make an impact on Congenital Heart Defects!

Thank You To Codeword For Creating CHD Awareness Gear

We are here to comfort you as you comfort and advocate for your Heart Warrior!

Our first product capsule included two hats, a sweatshirt, and a baseball tee that can keep you comfy as you rock your baby in the PCICU or run about town doing errands. Codeword pledged a percentage of proceeds to help support Bright Heart Foundation’s mission to strengthen heart families, raise CHD awareness, and fight against Congenital Heart Defects.

Thank You To Sevenly For Fundraising Through Advocacy Merchandise

The brand Sevenly created wonderful CHD supportive merchandise for Bright Heart Month for every heart family member or supporter and cardiac care team member to add to their advocacy collection!

Sevenly pledged a percentage of proceeds to help support Bright Heart Foundation’s mission to strengthen heart families, raise CHD awareness, and fight against Congenital Heart Defects.

Thank You To Our Community For Attending Our CHD Virtual Mixer

Bright Heart Foundation co-hosted a virtual mixer with Conquering CHD and The Brett Boyer Foundation on Sat, Feb 13th that was an inclusive space to connect with other CHD families while also opening up an opportunity for attendees to interact with a few of the organizations that stand beside you in the daily fight against CHD. We hope that attendees were able to meet some new allies for our collective cause.

Hockey Has Heart – For Heart Healthcare Heroes: VIP Experiences

In partnership with the Nashville Predators Foundation, we treated 16 front-line healthcare workers fromthe pediatric cardiac care team to a suite experience at the Nashville Predators Hockey Game on February 13th.

On February 25th, we teamed up with the Nashville Predators Foundation again as weprovided 80 meals to both inpatient and outpatient care team members of the pediatric cardiac division. Predators mascot Gnash helped us distribute the tasty meals catered by our friends at Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant to honor our Heart Healthcare Heroes. A true testament that Hockey Has Heart!

Thanks again to the generosity of the Nashville Predators Foundation, all proceeds of the Preds CHD Bear WubbaNub support the Pediatric Cardiac Division at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. We salute our littlest 7th man fan, Babies with Congenital Heart Defects!

Sleep Training Success with Moms on Call

On February 18th, we hosted a FREE virtual session with the creators of Moms On Call to discuss sleep training, scheduling, and other tips that helped babies and families thrive.

“There are many hearts involved in a family, supporting Bright Heart Foundation gives us an opportunity to ensure the health of every heart involved: mom, dad, siblings and baby. Every heart is valuable.” – Laura and Jennifer, Moms on Call Co-Founders

Rest Easy Knowing Your Sound Machine Purchases Supported CHD

For Bright Heart Month, Moms On Call offered a special promotion of 20% off of their two sound machine products to our followers with proceeds from each sale to benefit Bright Heart Foundation’s mission to strengthen heart families, raise CHD awareness, and fight against Congenital Heart Defects. Thank you for having our backs, Moms On Call!

Mobeoner Donates CHD Mural to Bright Heart Foundation

Incredibly talented artist and Heart Dad, Mobeoner (Eric Bass), created a masterpiece called “Broken Hearts of Gold” and selflessly donated it to Bright Heart Foundation in honor of all affected by Congenital Heart Defects, including his own infant son, Rainn Bass. “The butterfly sewing the heart with the needle and thread represents the heart surgeons. The broken heart of gold represents the innocent children born with broken hearts. The butterflies symbolize transformation, hope, and life. The flowers symbolize growth and beauty,” says Mobeoner. The wall-size mural is located at 217 Willow Street, Nashville, TN 37210 for all to enjoy.

Bright Heart Foundation: Family Update

We know all about the journey of a CHD Heart Warrior because of our own journey with our 3 year-old son, Luke. LUKE unexpectedly ended up in the hospital two times in February during Bright Heart Month 2021. Through these recent hospitalizations, we found out that he will be going in for his third open-heart surgery in April 2021. In honor of our family’s upcoming and ongoing battle with CHD, we share this video from 2019. Please take the time to view it and share LUKE’S STORY!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.