Hops For Hearts: Together We Can Make A Difference
The Heart Hero Project will be hosting a special event called Hops for Hearts in order to raise money for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Children and their families from all over the world are affected daily by Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Alicia McPeters of Sicklerville, New Jersey is the mother of a child with HLHS fighting for his life every day. She states “my son Liam was born with a rare congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome in November 2017. Liam’s big sister Reagan is his greatest fan. She knows his heart is broken, and she loves and cares for him so much!”
HLHS is a rare congenital heart defect that affects the regular flow of blood through the heart. Soon after birth, babies with hypoplastic left heart syndrome their ductus arteriosus and the patent foramen ovale (the normal openings in the heart) will close causing life-threatening symptoms to the baby such as difficulty breathing, heavy and accelerated heart rate, weak pulse, and/or discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen in the blood. There is no known cause, and no cure for HLHS and this often-deadly defect affects only approximately 1 in every 10,000 babies.
McPeters’ has experienced firsthand all of the sufferings this defect has caused her beautiful little boy; however, they persevere and live life one day at a time. “When you hear those words ‘there’s something wrong with your babies’ heart,’ your entire world comes crashing down on top of you. All anyone ever wants is a healthy baby, and when something so severe as the heart, the very thing that defines life in a human, is ‘broken’, there is no right or wrong way to deal with that. Watching Liam go through open heart surgery three times before his 1st birthday, suffer from major complications, internal bleeding, and undergoing anesthesia for the 1,000th time for other procedures, it’s heartbreaking to see such a tiny body so broken and covered in scars. Then there are the days when I see my son smile and laugh and dance and I know that he is here for a reason, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Many parents don’t get the opportunity to see even one smile, so I am thankful for whatever time I get with him, be it 3 years, 10 years, or 10 minutes.” Says McPeters.
This is why funding for congenital heart defects is so important. More children die each year from heart defects than childhood cancer, yet the funding for cancer is 5 times more. Support these babies and help us spread awareness and raise money for life-saving research. These babies deserve a chance at life, and these parents deserve hope.
The Heart Hero Project will be hosting their first fundraising event called Hops for Hearts Saturday, February 16 at 4:00 p.m. The event will be hosted at Hidden Sands Brewery in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. All profits made from Hops for Hearts will be donated to The Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.
Please join us for Hops for Hearts as we raise awareness and funds in support of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome research. Good brews, great food and a whole lot of fun! Buy Your Ticket Here.
If you are interested in donating auction baskets, please contact theheartheroproject@gmail.com.
If you can’t make it but would like to make a donation, please visit https://www.heartheroproject.org/donate.html
