BOSTON, MA – A notable landmark in the city of Boston, the Museum of Science is home to one of the most breathtaking views of the city from the Skyline Room. A stone’s throw to Massachusetts General Hospital where congenital heart defect patients from all over the world have come to seek expert care, the elevated dining experience raised funds to support families in need through the Heartfelt Dreams Foundation.
“At Mass General, we do a really good job of taking care of patients but we can’t do that if they can’t get to the hospital,” explains Chris Learn, ACHD Cardiologist at MGH and friend to the Heartfelt Dreams Foundation. “There’s really so few resources out there.”
Stepping in to provide housing accommodations for families traveling to Boston from out of state, transportation that can be costly for those who are not close to the city, and basic needs for families who have received a congenital heart defect diagnosis and are struggling to make ends meet – Heartfelt Dreams has been working alongside medical professionals to support patients. “We really couldn’t get them to many of their appointments and testing without the help of Heartfelt Dreams,” explains Sherrin Gallagher, Nurse Practitioner at MGH who has witnessed firsthand families that are fearful not only of their diagnosis but of how to navigate them financially.
Working alongside the Heartfelt Dreams Foundation was an experience for Learn & Gallagher they say has opened their eyes to the challenges patients face beyond their diagnosis and provided the tools to help. “So much of getting through congenital heart disease surgery and procedures is also managing your own life while you’re trying to get your health in order,” says Learn.
For patients like Devynn, who was one of nearly 40,000 babies every year are born in the U.S. with a congenital heart defect, the organization had been a saving grace providing the Evans family with gift cards for gas, hotel stays, and transportation. “After her surgery she had a tracheotomy and a feeding tube and a daycare is not going to take a child that is not stable,” explains Kelsey Evans, Devynn’s mother. Without childcare, Kelsey not go back to work for 2 years as medical bills continued to rise and she continued to rely on family and friends for support. “That was financially really really difficult.”
Luckily, one day listening to the radio the Evans’ heard about the Heartfelt Dreams Foundation. “We needed transportation to Boston for an upcoming appointment,” says Tom Evans, Devynn’s grandfather. “Eric got back to us in half an hour.”
But Heartfelt Dreams didn’t stop there: they also provided equipment that could help monitor Devon’s condition so the family could breathe easier, assisted with lodging so the family could be together during surgery, and even gave Devon a special surprise: a stretch limo for Devynn and her family to ride home in, with a tiara. “Emotionally you’re at such a heightened state..stressed and worried and trying to remain calm..it was just so nice to have that one thing taken care of. I mean, everything, but that one thing was really big,” Kelsey says of just knowing they wouldn’t have to take the bus to Boston. “It makes it so much easier to be there for your child and focus on them when you have people like Heartfelt Dreams supporting you.”
To learn more about The Heartfelt Dreams Foundation, visit their website.
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Emmalyn Reid 