From Heart Warrior to Heart Advocate ❤️👑 Madeline Tomchick Runco, Mrs. DC America 2025, shares how her personal journey with a congenital heart defect (#CHD)—first as a patient, then as a mother to a #HeartWarrior —fuels her mission to raise awareness and support life-saving research for children like her son. Read her inspiring story: https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/blogs/stories/from-heart-warrior-to-heart-advocate.html #CHDawareness #HeartWarrior #MrsDCAmerica #TheChildrensHeartFoundation #HeartMom #WhyIWearTheCrown #HeartMom (fb)

Tiffanie Jeffrey, a Heart Mom to Heart Warrior Dylan, shares why The Children’s Heart Foundation's mission of funding congenital heart defect (#CHD) research is so important to her. ❤ "The Children's Heart Foundation helped to fund the research that was conducted on Dylan’s heart condition by Dr. Kaushal, who also performed his surgery. Although this particular condition is not new, research has helped with exploring way to identify these types of heart conditions much earlier. When we discovered Dylan’s heart defect, he was 9 years old and would often tell us that he would experience chest pains when engaging in high levels of physical activity. Sadly, we did not look further into these complaints, especially after his pediatrician explained that it was not something to be too concerned about at that time. It wasn’t until he fainted in his dad’s lap after practicing his violin that realized that there was something wrong. So through my work with CHF, I continue to promote and encourage all Moms and parents to listen to your kids. Pay attention to what they are telling you and do not stop fighting until you get some answers. CHD research helps save lives and that is why it is so important." (fb)