We Support
Needs of the Heart
Jessie’s Heart provides financial support to those needing assistance with transportation, lodging, food, daycare, and other unexpected expenses. We believe that by reducing the family’s financial burdens, parents can focus on the care and well-being of their child.
We support the multidisciplinary collaboration of Social Workers, Child Life Specialists, Pediatric Psychologists, and Chaplains in the support of CHD families.
Desires of the Heart
We fulfill dreams for cardiac children. Working with the hospital’s care team, we learn about the children’s wishes and gift them through Jessie’s Heart’s Desires of the Heart program.
Jessie’s Heart captures the stories of families whose kids have been diagnosed with heart conditions. A personal book is designed for them that displays family pictures and stories of their emotional journey.
16-month-old Rowan was born with 4 heart defects.
She has already undergone three open heart surgeries, with the first one on her third day of life. She received a bi-ventricular repair in 2017 and is now living at a normal oxygenation. Her conduit will need to be replaced as she grows and will be under a lifetime of medical surveillance.
Rowan’s parents are happy to share that she lives a normal and very happy life now as a sassy little lady. Her absolute favorite animal is a horse, and she loves the rocking horse gifted by Jessie’s Heart
Faith’s Journey: A Family’s Strength and the Power of Community
Before Faith and her twin brother were born, their mom, Nicole, already knew one of her babies would need special care. At her ten-week appointment, she learned that one of them had Down syndrome—a diagnosis that can bring uncertainty and fear to any parent. But for Nicole, there was peace. She even chose not to know which of her twins had the condition, focusing instead on embracing both babies with love.
Nicole’s pregnancy was already high-risk, but with the diagnosis came new challenges. Her doctor in Greeley recommended transferring her care to Presbyterian/St. Luke’s and Rocky Mountain Children’s in Denver, ensuring she and her babies had the specialized care they needed.
At just 35 weeks, Nicole went into labor. When Faith’s water broke, doctor sent her straight to Denver. Things moved quickly—Nicole was rushed into an emergency C-section, and in an instant, her babies were here. Finally, she knew for certain: her daughter Faith had Down syndrome.
Many babies with Down syndrome are born with congenital heart conditions, and Faith was no exception. Doctors had prepared for the
possibility of immediate surgery, and just days after birth, Faith underwent her first heart operation.
Her early days were spent in the NICU, and for the first several months of life, she was in and out of the hospital. At just seven months old, Faith needed a second heart surgery.
“It was scary for sure,” Nicole shared. “It felt like we were at the top of a roller coaster—knowing you have to go, but not knowing what’s coming next.”
Faith spent ten days in the hospital after her second surgery. As the medical challenges piled up, so did the financial and emotional strain on her family. With a large family at home and the holidays approaching, Nicole worried about giving her children a Christmas together.
That’s when one of their hospital social workers connected them with Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation. Thanks to our generous donors and our friends at Jessie’s Heart Foundation, we were able to provide rental assistance, gas and grocery cards, and even gifts for the entire family.
“It just took so much worry off of us,” Nicole said. “Our family grew so quickly, and just having that help—the groceries, the gifts—it meant so much.”
Now, at 18 months old, Faith is thriving. She’s happy, playful, and keeping up with her twin brother. Nicole remains deeply grateful for the support they received during their hardest moments.
“For us as a family, we are so thankful,” she said. “When the money and gift cards are gone, what remains is what was given to us in our hearts—the peace of mind and the kindness of others. Seeing my baby here is such a blessing.”
In February, we highlighted children in our community who bravely face congenital heart conditions. Heart disease isn’t just an adult issue—many families, like Faith’s, are navigating the challenges of pediatric cardiac conditions.
Because of the support from Jessie’s Heart Foundation, we can be there for families like Faith’s in their time of need. Nicole put it best:
“This kind of generosity is more than just giving money—it’s the love and care that go into it.”