http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/ heartcentreforchildren.com.au Blog en 10/07/2013 12:00:00 PM http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/coronavirus--covid-19- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/coronavirus--covid-19- Many people in our community are feeling worried about COVID-19, our team is here to support you. Please visit our dedicated COVID-19 information page, which includes links to our support guides. Protecting your child and family remains our primary concern and we thank you for working with us during this difficult time. ... Fri, 27 Mar 2020 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/team-harley---city2surf-2017 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/team-harley---city2surf-2017 Mum Danielle puts it beautifully: "Why we started Team Harley: To raise awareness for Congenital Heart Disease in memory of our amazing little heart angel Harley and raise much needed funds to the one place that was our second home." Watch a short video of Danielle and Harley's story. Team Harley came together for the City2Surf 2016, raising $43,000 for the Heart Centre for Children.  This year, they're aiming for $50,000, to purchase two ECG machines and some other items for our inpatient area, Edgar Stephen Ward.  For more about Team Har... Tue, 27 Jun 2017 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/halor-s-story http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/halor-s-story One of our patients, Halor, was featured on The Children's Hospital at Westmead's Facebook page this week:     "Born weighing just less than a bag of flour, Halor was a very little baby entering a very big world. Even smaller though was his tiny heart, which due to a serious heart condition, was working overtime to pump blood to the rest of his body. Surgery was vital to fix Halor's heart and is ultimately the reason, 11 years on; he is able to run the City2Surf. This August, Halor will be running as part of City2Surf - Team Bandaged Bear n... Fri, 23 Jun 2017 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/piloting-a-smartphone-app http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/piloting-a-smartphone-app The Children's Hospital at Westmead will soon be piloting a new smartphone app that allows patients and families to see their upcoming appointments and, in future, to access important documentation and education.  Some patients at the Heart Centre for Children will be invited to try this app starting from late May. For more information, visit the My Health Memory overview on the SCHN website. ... Fri, 12 May 2017 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/from-the-heart-study--it-s-not-too-late-to-be-part-of-this-important-study- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/from-the-heart-study--it-s-not-too-late-to-be-part-of-this-important-study- From the Heart is an Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry research study open to children, young people and adults with a Fontan circulation, and their parents and siblings. The study is focused on better understanding the health, wellbeing and experiences of people of all ages with a Fontan circulation, as well as the experiences of their parents, brothers and sisters.  The study is coordinated by Laura Mitchell at the Heart Centre for Children and the University of NSW in Sydney, in collaboration with the ANZ Fontan Registry and involves filling in one questionnaire ... Thu, 02 Feb 2017 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/soccer-marathon-bigger-and-better-than-ever http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/soccer-marathon-bigger-and-better-than-ever The 5th annual 24-hour soccer marathon was held in Dural this weekend and the team far exceeded their fundraising goal, bringing in an incredible $105,000, to be shared between Neurology, the Cancer Centre and the Heart Centre for Children. It was a fun day/night/day for everyone involved, and a good run-around for The Children's Hospital at Westmead's "kids vs adults" game between 2 and 4pm on Saturday.  It was heartwarming to be part of such an active, inclusive event that has provided us with the funds to really make a difference to patients and families.... Tue, 06 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/wagga-wagga-spring-cocktail-party http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/wagga-wagga-spring-cocktail-party The Bald and the Beautiful Spring Cocktail Party, being held in Wagga Wagga on 17 September, is a celebration and fundraiser for the Heart Centre, organised by a wonderful team of supporters including the parents of one of our patients.  We look forward to seeing some of our Wagga families there!  Tickets available at https://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=211409 The group's fundraising page can be found at https://give.everydayhero.com/au/raising-money-for-the-heart-centre-for-children ... Thu, 01 Sep 2016 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/city2surf-2016 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/city2surf-2016 Harley would have been incredibly proud of his family and friends this weekend as they walked or ran the City2Surf along with over 80,000 others, and raised a huge $43,000 to support the Heart Centre for Children.  Sadly Harley passed away earlier this year, but his Mum Danielle wanted to do something to help other kids with heart disease, so she channelled her energy into fundraising.  Here are some photos of the Harley is My Heart Hero (Heart Centre for Children) team from yesterday's 14km race: Harley is My Heart Hero team at the start line   A... Mon, 15 Aug 2016 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congenital-heart-health http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congenital-heart-health National standards need to be developed for mental health care in congenital heart disease (CHD) to help address the significant emotional toll of diagnosis and treatment. In a perspective published in the latest issue of the Medical Journal of Australia A/Prof. Nadine Kasparian from the Heart Centre for Children at The Children's Hospital at Westmead outlines how the need for an integrated approach incorporating physical and mental health is crucial to 'congenital heart health'. CHD affects more than 2,400 babies in Australia each year. It is the leading cause of infant deat... Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/24-hour-soccer-marathon http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/24-hour-soccer-marathon Are you interested in being part of a 24 hour game of indoor soccer?  The Kicking Goals for Kids soccer marathon is in its fifth year and will take place from 6pm Friday 2 to 6pm Saturday 3 September 2016 in Dural. It is a fun night and day, with music and a delicious BBQ for all players.  It's a great way to get involved, and perhaps take on a team of Heart Centre staff. For more information, head to https://give.everydayhero.com/au/kicking-goals-for-sick-kids-2016 We look forward to seeing you there! ... Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/2-weeks-to-go---mending-small-hearts http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/2-weeks-to-go---mending-small-hearts Just two weeks to go until the Mending Small Hearts gala dinner on 16 July.  This wonderful event sold out several weeks ago and promises to be a great evening.  A huge thank you to the organisers.  We look forward to seeing you on the night! For more information, head to the Mending Small Hearts Facebook page. Sat, 02 Jul 2016 18:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/harley-is-my-heart-hero http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/harley-is-my-heart-hero Harley was one of our patients who sadly passed away just recently.  His family and friends are honouring his life by selling "Harley is my Heart Hero" t-shirts and doing a series of fundraisers. The Facebook page is available here, including Harley's story.  The family made the news with their fundraising efforts, and we cannot thank them enough for supporting the work that we do at the Heart Centre for Children.  Harley's memory will certainly live on. ... Wed, 29 Jun 2016 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you-australian-islamic-mission http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you-australian-islamic-mission This year's Ride Your Heart Out 80km cycle challenge raised a huge $12,000 for the Heart Centre for Children.  A big thank you to Omar Eter and Eahab Arja who came and presented us with the cheque today.  They are pictured here with Dr Christian Turner, one of our cardiologists. We're already looking forward to the 2017 challenge, scheduled for late February next year.  Head to http://www.rideyourheartout.com.au/ for more information. ... Thu, 23 Jun 2016 18:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/mending-small-hearts http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/mending-small-hearts We were very excited to see one of our families in the news, and to hear about the Mending Small Hearts gala dinner they are putting together.  The goal of the Mending Small Hearts charity event is to raise money towards new equipment two ECG machines and a cardiac ultrasound machine. The hospital treats up to 3500 children with congenital heart disease each year. Mrs Roy says despite the ongoing challenges, Ethan is a happy baby. "He's easygoing, and takes everything in his stride," she said. "He has an amazing team of carers, so we want to gi... Tue, 03 May 2016 18:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/our-new-heart-lung-machine http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/our-new-heart-lung-machine We held a celebratory event on Monday to thank the major donors and fundraisers who made the purchase of a new Heart Lung Machine possible.  Over 700 people contributed to the funds needed to get this machine, which acts as the heart and lungs for a patient during bypass surgery.  We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the community, both in dollar value and in the time and effort that went in to so many fundraising events.  Thank you all.  This video explains a little more about how much it means to us:     ... Fri, 22 Apr 2016 08:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/study-launch--from-the-heart http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/study-launch--from-the-heart We are very pleased to announce the launch of our latest research study, "From the Heart". This study is looking into the health and well-being of children and adults with a Fontan circulation and their families. It is being coordinated by Laura Mitchell through the Heart Centre for Children in Sydney and The University of New South Wales, and is a collaboration with the ANZ Fontan Registry. Through "From the Heart" we are hoping to learn more about the individual experiences of people with a Fontan circulation, as well as the experiences of their parents and... Wed, 10 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/abdalah-s-new-heart http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/abdalah-s-new-heart One of our patients, little Abdalah, appeared in the Parramatta Sun last week.  Abdalah had a heart transplant last year and as his Mum says, "now he's very good, he's a happy, normal little boy".  Read the full story at: http://www.parramattasun.com.au/story/3647423/were-very-lucky-hes-with-us-today/ Mon, 11 Jan 2016 07:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/surgeon-nominated-for-australian-of-the-year http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/surgeon-nominated-for-australian-of-the-year We are incredibly proud of all of our surgeons and the work that they do, and Ian Nicholson is certainly no exception.  He is one of four NSW nominees for Australian of the Year 2016.  From the award website: "One of Australia's leading cardiothoracic surgeons, Dr Ian Nicholson has a heart of gold. A regular volunteer with Open Heart International since his first trip to Fiji in 1994, Ian has travelled throughout the Pacific and Africa to give people in developing countries the lifesaving surgery they deserve yet cannot afford. Each year, Ian lands in places like P... Mon, 23 Nov 2015 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/buy-a-heart http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/buy-a-heart On Tuesday the Friends of the Heart Centre (a group of parents and community members supporting the Heart Centre for Children through fundraising, advocacy and feedback) launched the "Buy a Heart" programme within the hospital.  Hearts of different colours and sizes are available for donors, whose money will go towards equipment, research and support for patients and families.  Donors can include their child's name, photo, or their own message on the heart, which will be displayed at our outpatients clinic reception or in Edgar Stephen Ward.  Please contact u... Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/our-new-cardiac-suite http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/our-new-cardiac-suite We are delighted to announce that our brand new, state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation suite opened this week.  A HUGE thank you to Sargents Pies Charitable Foundation who funded the $3.4 million upgrade.  Cardiac catheterisation is a lot like keyhole surgery, a less invasive option than open-heart surgery.  It isn't always suitable, depending on what is wrong with a child's heart, but when it is, it means a much faster recovery time, which is a good thing for kids and their families.  This new suite also offers us the ability to perform full surgeries if n... Thu, 19 Nov 2015 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/fontan-education-day-young-people-workshop http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/fontan-education-day-young-people-workshop On Sunday 18th October 2015, the Heart Centre for Children (HCfC) at The Children's Hospital at Westmead hosted the second annual Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry Family Education Day. The HCfC Family Support Team was delighted to provide a workshop for young people who have had the Fontan operation and their siblings. Six young people participated in the day, which was jam-packed with a mix of education sessions and fun activities, as well as a few surprises! The interactive workshop provided an opportunity for young people to meet and share experiences with one another, w... Wed, 11 Nov 2015 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/fontan-education-day-2015 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/fontan-education-day-2015 Patients, families and allied health workers are invited to attend the Fontan Education Day 2015 to hear up to date information and research related to the Fontan circulation and life experiences. The Education Day will include presentations from specialists in paediatric and adult congenital heart disease focused on a range of topics including; long-term care after the Fontan operation, support services and how to access them, research updates and future research goals. The sessions will provide an opportunity for audience questions and discussion, with aspects of the program focuse... Tue, 18 Aug 2015 12:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/24-hours-continuous-game-of-soccer--kicking-goals-for-sick-kids- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/24-hours-continuous-game-of-soccer--kicking-goals-for-sick-kids- The Kicking Goals for Sick Kids 24-hour Soccer Marathon is an annual event which aims to raise much needed funds for The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Over the last 3 years, the event has contributed over $117,000 to purchase vital equipment for the Oncology Clinic and the Heart Centre at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. The aim this is year is to raise over $50,000 (Just under $44,000 was raised last year), with all proceeds to be used to purchase life-saving and monitoring equipment within the Oncology clinic, Heart Centre and Neurology department. Donations can be ma... Thu, 09 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/trivia-night http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/trivia-night   Zipper Tickers are organising a Trivia Night and all proceeds from this event will be donated to the Heart Centre for Children. Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/cycling-1500-kilometres-in-france- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/cycling-1500-kilometres-in-france- Annabel, (Cardiac Physiologist at the Heart centre for Children) is in France to cycle 1500 kilometres from Strasbourg to Pau over ten days. In doing so, Annabel will also be raising funds for the Heart Centre for Children. Please support Annabel by donating or simply sending her some well wishes by following this link: https://give.everydayhero.com/au/annabel-arnheim-heart-centre-for-children.   Tue, 09 Jun 2015 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/holly-s-story http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/holly-s-story Holly is a young woman with a very special heart, but she has not let it hold her back from her passion for athletics, recently winning all sorts of medals at the national championships.  Read more about Holly's journey here. Thu, 16 Apr 2015 14:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you--australian-islamic-mission- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you--australian-islamic-mission- A very big thank you to the Australian Islamic Mission who organised a bike ride from Katoomba to The Children's Hospital at Westmead earlier this year and raised a whopping $21,000!  The money is being put towards the Heart Lung Machine we need to enable us to perform life-saving surgeries on our tiny patients, so it will make a very big difference to many lives.  A/Prof Gary Sholler (pictured right) was delighted to have an opportunity to thank Sadiq (left) from the AIM in person earlier today.... Wed, 15 Apr 2015 16:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/kaitlyn-s-athletic-achievements http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/kaitlyn-s-athletic-achievements We are always delighted to hear from patients and families about how they're doing, and loved getting this letter from Kaitlyn's parents recently (along with some photos of Kaitlyn competing at the Athletics Australia Youth Championships, finishing 6th in Australia for several of the under-14's events!).  Kaitlyn was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries and had an arterial switch when she was younger, and has gone on to become an incredible athlete.  As her parents said to us: "We are very proud of her.  Apart from her athletics, cross country she... Wed, 25 Mar 2015 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/fontan-education-day---save-the-date http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/fontan-education-day---save-the-date On Sunday 18 October 2015, we will be hosting the national Fontan Education Day here at the Heart Centre for Children.  This is an all-day event for patients and families with Fontan circulations, and will include a wide range of speakers from the medical profession and wider community (including other patients and families).  More information will be available closer to the date. Mon, 09 Mar 2015 08:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/ride-your-heart-out-this-weekend http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/ride-your-heart-out-this-weekend Good luck to all of the riders who are biking from Katoomba to The Children's Hospital at Westmead this weekend, and thank you so much for your support!  We look forward to seeing you at the finish line.  The Ride Your Heart Out event (an 80km ride) will be raising funds towards a new Heart Lung Machine.  For more information, go to www.rideyourheartout.com.au Wed, 04 Mar 2015 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/-110k-closer-to-our-goal http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/-110k-closer-to-our-goal A Heart Lung Machine costs a whopping $500,000 - but over 10 years it will help to save thousands of young lives. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, the hard work of several fundraisers, and the unwavering support of families affected by Congenital Heart Disease, we are delighted to announce that we have just clicked over $110,000 raised towards this vital piece of equipment. Every dollar helps.  For more information see the Heart Lung Machine Fundraising page, or contact the Heart Centre Manager on (02) 9845 2326. ... Thu, 12 Feb 2015 12:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/grin-and-bear-it-2015 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/grin-and-bear-it-2015 Last year this mud run and obstacle course was a huge hit with staff and families who participated.  This year promises to be even bigger and better!  If you are up for a challenge, with plenty of different obstacles for any fitness level, and you want to fundraise for a good cause, join us on the 22nd of March for Grin and Bear It. For more information and to sign up, head to http://bandagedbear.org.au/fundraising-event/grin-and-bear-it/ Tue, 03 Feb 2015 17:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/nrl-grand-final-tickets-help-the-heart-centre http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/nrl-grand-final-tickets-help-the-heart-centre The father of one of our patients gave up his NRL Grand Final tickets over the weekend to be at his child's bedside, asking 2GB to auction them off to raise much-needed funds for the Heart Centre for Children.  With this act of generosity, Blake brought in $4,000 for us, which will go a long way towards our purchase of a new Heart Lung Machine.  Here's the email he sent to Ray Hadley that kicked it all off: Evening Ray, I have listened often over the years and therefore new you'd be the man that could make this happen....if possible of course? I'm sendin... Tue, 07 Oct 2014 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/little-eli-on-7-news http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/little-eli-on-7-news One of our little patients, Eli, was on 7 News on Friday with his Mum, Elissa.  Eli has cardiomyopathy and is likely to need a heart transplant.  Elissa and our very own Dr Phil Roberts are encouraging families to talk about organ donation and what they would want if the worst were to happen to one of them or their children - in the hope that we can increase organ donation rates in Australia and give little guys like Eli a second chance.  Watch the video here:       ... Mon, 29 Sep 2014 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/our-new-exercise-stress-lab http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/our-new-exercise-stress-lab   Welcome to our new exercise stress lab! Thanks to the generous contributions of Dr KC Lau (one of our retiring cardiologists), the wonderful organisers of the Soccer Marathon earlier this month (who purchased the treadmill component), and VFX (who donated the outstanding new wall mural, which took several hours to put up), our exercise stress lab is now one of the best in the world. The treadmill and ergometer (a sort of reclining bicycle) are used to uncover abnormal heart rhythms and symptoms such as chest pain that sometimes only show up during exercise.  ... Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/kicking-goals-success-on-saturday http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/kicking-goals-success-on-saturday A huge thank you to George, Vivian, Joe and Clara, and everyone who helped to make this year's Soccer Marathon such a success!  The Heart Centre for Children team played at 3pm on Saturday, kicking quite a few goals either way, and not only did we have a great time, but we were thrilled to be presented with a giant cheque that represents enough funding (split with the Oncology department at The Children's Hospital at Westmead) to purchase lots of new equipment.  On our list is a treadmill for our new exercise stress lab, a holter monitor and a temporary pacemaker.  Fo... Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/team-gigi http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/team-gigi We are stunned by the amazing fundraising effort that Team Gigi, a group of 14 friends and family members of little Georgie, one of our patients, have put in for the City2Surf this year.  Team Gigi started off with a fundraising goal of $5,000 but with two days still to go they have already tripled that, making a big difference to our ability to purchase a new heart lung machine this year.  This is what the team have to say on their fundraising page about their motivation for entering the race and seeking donations: Our inspiration is a gorgeous little girl Georgie, (our Gi... Fri, 08 Aug 2014 13:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/how-noni-the-cow-helped-the-heart-centre http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/how-noni-the-cow-helped-the-heart-centre We are constantly amazed by some of the creative ways that families and supporters of the Heart Centre for Children raise funds to enable us to continue our ground-breaking research and to purchase much-needed medical equipment.  The family of one of our patients, Zachary, is one of the most creative in a while, putting their calf, Noni, up for sale at the Royal Easter Show and donating half of the proceeds (a whopping $2,500) to us!  They also sent us a lovely letter, saying: "We appreciate all that you did for Zach during his surgeries and hope you can put the money ... Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/mohammad-s-heart-transplant http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/mohammad-s-heart-transplant Mohammad is a brave young man and a talented soccer player who was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of three that eventually meant he needed a heart transplant.  In this short clip he talks about the struggle of having to sit on the sidelines while his friends played sports, and coming to terms with needing a new heart, as well as the importance of organ donation (from someone who both gave and received).  Thank you to Transplant Australia for making the video and sharing it on YouTube, and to Mohammad's family for allowing us to share his story. &... Tue, 05 Aug 2014 16:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thomas-smith-s-visit http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thomas-smith-s-visit Artist Thomas Smith and his wife Rita kindly visited the Heart Centre for Children today, donating two original paintings and bringing 29 brand new soft toys with him that were donated by a school in Shanghai to bring smiles to our patients' faces, like that of Danielle (pictured), age 11.  We look forward to working with Thomas and Rita over the coming months and years as they pursue their plans to raise funds for paediatric cardiac research for us.  More of Thomas' art can be seen at www.thomasartgallery.com     ... Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/soccer--futsal--marathon-5-6-september http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/soccer--futsal--marathon-5-6-september The third annual soccer (futsal) marathon, Kicking Goals for Kids, will take place from 6pm Friday 5 September to 6pm Saturday 6 September at Tyndale Christian School, 58 Douglas Road, Blacktown NSW 2148.  Children (and those who are still kids at heart) from 5 to 105 years old can play, and help the team to raise funds for the Heart Centre for Children and the Oncology unit at CHW.  The more the merrier!  For more information and to stay updated, go to http://www.facebook.com/kicking.goals.for.kids.  To sponsor or donate, head to https://give.everydayhero.com/au/kicking-goa... Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/baby-nyah http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/baby-nyah The first baby ever to have been delivered at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, due to her critical condition that meant she required immediate surgery, little Nyah and her family shared their story on Channel 9 News over the weekend.  For the video, head to http://www.9news.com.au/national/2014/07/26/22/59/baby-girl-home-again-after-multiple-heart-surgeries. Tue, 29 Jul 2014 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/golf-day-31-october http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/golf-day-31-october Zipper Tickers, the Newcastle-based group of Mums who last year raised over $40,000 towards a new echo machine, is this year organising a Charity Golf Day to help fund a new heart-lung machine (which keeps our little patients alive during open-heart surgery).  Details of the day and how to register your team are on the website, www.zippertickers.com: Please join us at Newcastle’s premier golf club Pacific Dunes on Friday 31st October for what promises to be a fun filled day of golf and laughter as we raise funds towards the purchase of a new Heart Lung By-Pass machine for ... Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/new-cath-lab http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/new-cath-lab We are delighted to announce that thanks to the incredible generosity of the Sargents Pies Charitable Foundation, the Heart Centre for Children will be replacing our cardiac catheterisation lab in late 2014.  This paediatric cath lab is the only one of its kind in New South Wales, and it allows us to perform keyhole surgery on children who would otherwise require open heart surgery.  This means that sick children can be treated and go home faster, which is incredible.  All of our staff, as well as patients and families, are very grateful for the opportunity to have the best p... Tue, 22 Jul 2014 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congratulations-bike-winners http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congratulations-bike-winners We recently held three raffles for bikes donated by a generous supporter of the Heart Centre for Children.  These were drawn on the 3rd of June and I wish to congratulate the winners: The Foley family The Williams family, and The Tamar family We hope you enjoy your prizes and look forward to seeing photos of you on them! Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/share-your-story http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/share-your-story One of our adolescent patients is writing a book about congenital heart disease and would like to speak to other children and their families about it.  If you are interested in sharing your story, please Contact Us and we will put you in touch.  Alternatively, call me on (02) 9845 2326 to discuss.  Many thanks! Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congratulations-glenda- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congratulations-glenda- Congratulations to our very own Nurse Practitioner, Glenda Fleming, for being awarded the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Excellence in Nursing Award.  Glenda joined the Heart Centre team just a few months ago, having worked in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) previously, and is a wonderful addition to our team.  On behalf of everyone at the Heart Centre, we are so proud of you, Glenda! Fri, 30 May 2014 16:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/jasmine-s-cake-stall http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/jasmine-s-cake-stall Thank you so much to our friend Jasmine who decided to do a little good these school holidays and set up a bake sale outside her house to raise money for the Heart Centre for Children.  Jasmine and her grandmother baked all day to have a table full of goodies for people to choose from, and then Jasmine and her friends Amelie, Astrid, Chloe, Georgia and Violet sold the cookies and cakes, raising a fantastic $83.50 for us.  The money will be put towards purchasing a Heart-Lung Machine, to help us to perform life-saving surgery on babies and children just like Jasmine, who was... Wed, 30 Apr 2014 13:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/william-s-first-soccer-game http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/william-s-first-soccer-game William was born with a rare form of congenital heart disease involving a complex single ventricle.  After undergoing several surgeries to give him a special Fontan circulation, William finally had the energy to run around like other children his age.  Celebrating his first soccer game last week was a dream come true for William and his family, and a delight for the Heart Centre for Children staff to see, thanks to these photos from William's Mum, Lisa.  To find out more about a range of heart conditions, click here. To help us to help more children like Willia... Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/now-hiring http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/now-hiring We are currently hiring a Perfusionist and an Imaging Fellow at the Heart Centre for Children.  More information can be found at: Perfusionist - https://nswhealth.erecruit.com.au/ViewPosition.aspx?Id=189457 Imaging Fellow - https://nswhealth.erecruit.com.au/ViewPosition.aspx?Id=190977 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/grin-and-bear-it-success http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/grin-and-bear-it-success The Heart Centre for Children entered a team in the inaugural Grin and Bear It challenge, in conjunction with Raw Challenge.  Six kilometres of mud and obstacles lay between us and the celebration breakfast at the finish line, and the team did amazingly well.  Not only did we all complete the course, but we did it while pushing prams through the first two kilometres, carrying weights through other parts, dragging tyres, swimming through ice-filled mud pits, crawling up tunnels, and more besides.  We know that this is nothing compared to what some of our young patients endu... Wed, 09 Apr 2014 14:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/new-pulse-oximeters http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/new-pulse-oximeters A while ago, a lovely young couple (Rachael and David) kindly asked guests at their engagement party to make donations to us instead of giving gifts.  The result was overwhelming, and with the funds we were able to purchase three brand new pulse oximeters - one large (left) and two small (right).  These help us to measure a patient's oxygen saturation (the amount of oxygen that is getting around the body) which is important in lots of cases - including for patients that need multiple surgeries, who can go home between each one and report in to our nurses about how well thei... Wed, 09 Apr 2014 13:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/welcome-dr-yishay-orr http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/welcome-dr-yishay-orr Last month we welcomed a new surgeon to the team.  Dr Yishay Orr comes to us with many years of experience in paediatric cardiothoracic surgery, and we are delighted to have her join the Heart Centre for Children. Wed, 02 Apr 2014 14:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/the-grin-and-bear-it-challenge http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/the-grin-and-bear-it-challenge On Sunday 23rd March, The Children's Hospital at Westmead is hosting The Grin and Bear it Challenge - an obstacle event designed to test strength, stamina and agility (and to have fun while doing it).   We have put a team together, by the name of Heart to Beat, and would love for you to join us.  The registration fee is $59, which covers your food and drink, bus transfers, event t-shirt, 2 x bootcamp training sessions and event pack. We are encouraged a minimum fundraising target of $750 per person. Collection from Westmead Children's Hospital will be at 3am to ... Tue, 11 Mar 2014 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/chain-reaction-challenge http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/chain-reaction-challenge Associate Professor Stuart Grieve, a radiologist at RPA Hospital, will be participating in the Chain Reaction Challenge, a 1200km in seven days cycling event around Tasmania, between Saturday 22 March and Friday 28 March. Stuart hopes to raise money to purchase an MRI-compatible cycle ergometer which will support cardiac MRI-related research at CHW. If you would like to sponsor him for this ride please go to:                 Stuart Grieve – Fundraising Page  Alternatively you can send him a c... Wed, 19 Feb 2014 08:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/patient-feedback http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/patient-feedback Thank you to the wonderful family for the recognition of the work our staff do at The Children’s Hospital in a feedback box submission recently.  The feedback reads: “All the nurses were exceptionally friendly, helpful and supportive.  There was definitely the "care" factor which made all the difference and a positive experience.  THANK YOU to all the doctors, specialists and nurses for everything they have done for my child who means the world to me.  Thank you and wishing you all the best.” ... Wed, 19 Feb 2014 08:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/valentine-s-day-cake-stall http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/valentine-s-day-cake-stall On Friday 14 February, the Heart Centre for Children staff held a cake stall to celebrate Valentine's Day and the end of Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week.  As usual, it was a great success and we saw many happy faces.  The event raised over $500, which will go towards purchasing a heart-lung machine.  To find out how you can help us to buy this key piece of equipment go to How You Can Help. ... Mon, 17 Feb 2014 08:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/heart-centre-cuties http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/heart-centre-cuties A big thank you to Monty and Edie who were recently decked out in specially-made Heart Centre for Children t-shirts, supporting their Mum Catriona as she did her first ever triathlon (which raised a big chunk of money towards our new echo machines).  Here's a photo that was just sent through of the cuties in their great outfits. Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/valentines-day-cake-stall http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/valentines-day-cake-stall 7-14 February is Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week, so we're going to celebrate Valentine's Day with a big cake stall and book sale in the entrance of The Children's Hospital at Westmead.  If you would like to help in any way, please call the Heart Centre Manager on (02) 9845 2326 or contact us here.  Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/welcome-charlotte http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/welcome-charlotte We are delighted to welcome Charlotte Verrall into her new role as the Fontan Registry Coordinator.  Charlotte comes from the UK and has a science degree and several years' experience working with children and families.  She will work with us part-time, giving information to families about the Fontan Registry and coordinating relevant research projects.  For more information about the Fontan Registry, click here. Mon, 20 Jan 2014 12:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/children-s-books-needed http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/children-s-books-needed We are in need of more children's books for our waiting room (for kids and families to read while they're here, or purchase for $2, which goes towards purchasing new equipment for the Heart Centre).  Please feel free to drop or post books in anytime.  Contact Kylie on 02 9845 2326 if you can help in any way.  Thank you!! Thu, 16 Jan 2014 13:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/join-us-for-the-color-run http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/join-us-for-the-color-run The Color Run is coming to Sydney Olympic Park once again on Sunday 9 February and we will be there, raising money for the Heart Centre for Children.  We would love to have a few more people on our team, so sign up via The Color Run and look for our team, The Pacemakers.  The morning event has sold out so get in quick!  Tickets for the afternoon are on sale from Wednesday 15 January.  Please call Kylie on 9845 2326 if you have any questions.... Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/merry-christmas http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/merry-christmas Wishing all of our patients, families, staff, supporters and visitors a very safe and happy festive season.  Thank you to Rachael who baked these amazing cakes for us recently - you spoil us!  And thank you to Precious Hearts who have once again put up a beautiful Christmas tree and surrounded it with gifts for patients who will be with us on Christmas Day.  No one wants to spend Christmas in hospital, but it is thanks to kind and generous people like you that it is made just that little bit easier.  Thank you to everyone for your support of the Heart Centre this ... Fri, 20 Dec 2013 12:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congratulations-daniel http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congratulations-daniel Daniel, one of our heart transplant patients (whose story is available here) wrote to us to let us know that he got his P plates recently - and then sent us this great snapshot.  Congratulations, Daniel!  Drive safe. Tue, 10 Dec 2013 13:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you-speckled-house http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you-speckled-house Linda at Speckled House has kindly sent us a big box of baby blankets and storage hampers for our ward.  Thank you so much Linda and team, they're beautiful and will be wonderful for our little patients. Anyone who is interested can find these items and more at www.speckledhouse.com Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/looking-for-phd-students http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/looking-for-phd-students Call for expressions of interest for PhD students who would like to research psychological aspects of paediatric heart disease. The Heart Centre for Children at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, in collaboration with the Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry and Sydney Children’s Hospital, is seeking Expressions of Interest from individuals interested in completing a PhD in childhood heart disease research, specifically in the areas of psychology and quality of life. The full-time PhD would begin in March 2014, and be completed within 3 years with the support of an ex... Mon, 02 Dec 2013 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/in-memory-of-madi http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/in-memory-of-madi Rachel and Mathew lost their 10-year-old daughter Madi to heart disease in 2011 and miss her every day, but they are turning a tragedy into a drive to prevent other families from experiencing the same loss through raising money for research.  The Heart Centre for Children is working hard to understand Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), the causes of it, different treatment options and how to support families in their journey.  To find out more about Madi and her family's fundraising quest, and to donate, head to In Memory of Madi.  For more about our research programme, visi... Thu, 28 Nov 2013 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/fontan-for-life http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/fontan-for-life William was just 38 hours old when he underwent his first heart surgery.  In his short life he has undergone three heart surgeries at the Heart Centre for Children – culminating in the Fontan procedure which he had last year. Now, at six years of age, his mother Lisa Chamberlin says he is a completely different child, who is active and loves to run around with his brother. William is one of over 900 children and adults who are taking part in the largest heart study of its kind in the world, the Fontan Registry and who, this month is hoping to raise awareness of the registry durin... Tue, 26 Nov 2013 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/volunteers-needed http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/volunteers-needed The Children's Hospital at Westmead is looking for volunteers to help with sibling care.  This is a service that we offer families so that siblings of patients can have some time out, playing games, doing craft activities and meeting other kids.  It really helps to be able to give parents a little bit of time to meet with doctors, surgeons and other hospital teams when they need to.  Kids can be in sibling care for an hour or half a day or more, and range from toddlers to pre-teens. The volunteers department is particularly looking for someone who can work Wednesda... Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/teddy-s-special-heart http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/teddy-s-special-heart Some kids are born special... like Teddy who has a special heart.  Teddy has had multiple operations already and will need more as he grows, but he's a fighter.  His family have launched a fundraiser, asking for your help to raise money for research into congenital heart disease so that we can understand more about conditions like Hypoplastic Left Heart, which Teddy has.  To read more about Teddy's story and how you can help, click here.  To read more about our research programmes, click here.... Wed, 20 Nov 2013 16:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/monty-at-the-radiothon http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/monty-at-the-radiothon Little Monty and his family visited us today for the 2UE Radiothon which is raising much-needed funds for The Children's Hospital at Westmead. The interview with his Mum Catriona can be found here. Thank you Monty and co for brightening our day!! Wed, 13 Nov 2013 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/nine-year-old-paris--story http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/nine-year-old-paris--story Diagnosed with SVT two years ago, Paris has had quite a journey to get to where she is today - a healthy, SVT-free young lady.  And a courageous and well-spoken one to boot.  Paris spoke to an audience of 196 guests at the Echo Gala Dinner in September, where she was the belle of the ball and highlight of the night.  Read her speech (her story) here. Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/cardiomyopathy-research-published http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/cardiomyopathy-research-published Two of our cardiologists, Dr Christian Turner and A/Prof Gary Sholler, were involved in a national study of cardiomyopathy that was published last week in Circulation.  The study found that after the first year following diagnosis, the majority of patients are well and do not need to take medication.  The paper is entitled 'Long-term outcomes of dilated cardiomyopathy diagnosed during childhood: results from a national population-based study of childhood cardiomyopathy.' To read the abstract or the full article, click here. ... Thu, 07 Nov 2013 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/2ue-radiothon-13-november http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/2ue-radiothon-13-november 2UE is running a Radiothon to support The Children's Hospital at Westmead and a few staff from the Heart Centre for Children will be manning the phones at various points throughout the day on Wednesday 13 November.  We would love to hear from you and we really appreciate any support that you can offer.  We are currently fundraising for new equipment (including temporary pacemakers for after surgery and a new heart-lung machine for during bypass) and for our research (both genetic and psycho-social).  For more information about the Radiothon, or to donate, head to http:... Mon, 04 Nov 2013 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/organ-donation-article http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/organ-donation-article One of our patients and A/Prof David Winlaw, Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, were in an article in The Australian over the weekend regarding Australia's high levels of support for organ donation but low numbers of donations being made.  Read the full article here: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/ Mon, 04 Nov 2013 08:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/-5-000-in-just-30-seconds http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/-5-000-in-just-30-seconds A $5,000 grant is up for grabs and all you need to do is take 30 seconds to click on this link and vote for HEART CENTRE FOR CHILDREN.  http://www.colonialfirststate.com.au/charity/ We are in need of some temporary pacemakers for children straight after open-heart surgery and this would go a long way towards purchasing one (they're $5,500 each).  These amazing devices make sure that the heart is beating correctly for a few days after surgery, and take over in the case that anything goes wrong.  They can literally save lives. Please click, and share. ... Fri, 01 Nov 2013 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/nhmrc-grants-announced http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/nhmrc-grants-announced The good news continued this week with the announcement that two research projects that Heart Centre staff are involved in have secured funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.  The projects are: Improving functional outcomes after Fontan surgery by a cross-sectional study of the outcomes following variation in practice in Australia and New Zealand: focus on anticoagulation and cardiac shunting by the fenestration & Clinical, Genetic and Psychosocial Aspects of Sudden Cardiac Death The competition for these highly-prestigious grants is inten... Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/catriona-s-triathlon-success http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/catriona-s-triathlon-success Congratulations and THANK YOU to Catriona (Monty's Mum) who completed her first triathlon on Saturday and raised over $15,000 for the Heart Centre in the process.  From small beginnings with an initial goal of just $1,000 to an incredible effort and touching generosity from the community in just three weeks, Catriona is an absolute star!  Here are a few snaps of her in the Nepean Triathlon on Saturday.  For more information, check out page 6 of the latest Northside Chronicle and keep an eye out for her on Prime TV! Last-minute donations are still very welcome at ht... Tue, 29 Oct 2013 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/cookie-time http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/cookie-time A generous and very talented supporter of the Heart Centre for Children sent us a box full of cookies this week.  We cannot thank you enough for the smiles they brought to everyone's faces - patients, families and staff.  The biscuits were absolutely incredible (as per these photos) and delicious to boot.  Thank you Jeannie! Fri, 25 Oct 2013 13:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/today-s-bake-sale-and-book-stall http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/today-s-bake-sale-and-book-stall The Heart Centre for Children held a bake sale and book stall today on the ground floor of The Children's Hospital at Westmead and it was a roaring success, thanks to our in-house bakers and some wonderful donations from families too.  Thank you to everyone who helped out and to those who bought a little something, we hope you enjoyed it.  We certainly saw a few smiling faces!  We were raising money for a post-surgery pacemaker because we need a few more of them to put on babies and children after surgery, so that if the heart doesn't quite beat as it should, the pace... Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/two-new-pulse-oximeters http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/two-new-pulse-oximeters A big thank you (and congratulations) to Rachael and David who had their engagement party over the weekend and kindly asked their guests to make donations to the Heart Centre in lieu of gifts.  The happy couple were hoping to raise enough to purchase a pulse oximeter (right).A pulse oximeter is a special device that can measure a patient’s oxygen saturation in a non-invasive and pain-free way.  This allows us to see how much oxygen is travelling around the body.  Some of our patients have heart conditions that require several stages of cardiac care and surgeries.... Mon, 21 Oct 2013 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/we-did-it----an-echo-machine- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/we-did-it----an-echo-machine- After many months, many events, and many amazing supporters, we have finally done it...  I had a call this afternoon from Precious Hearts to confirm that they will donate the remaining $7,239.72 to allow us to purchase a new cardiac ultrasound (echo) machine!  Added to the amazing events in Newcastle (the Zipper Tickers dinner) and Sydney (the Echo Gala Dinner), plus the wide range of fundraisers (including Tri and Tri Again and so many others) plus individual donations and efforts, we've at last got the $250,000 we need for a new machine. I can't thank everyone eno... Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/tri-and-tri-again http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/tri-and-tri-again "I’d be hard-pressed to make it through Dry July.  And I certainly can’t grow a moustache for Movember.  But on October 26th, I am going to attempt my first triathlon…and in doing so, raise funds and awareness for babies and children with congenital heart disease."  Read more about Catriona's amazing story and her triathlon fundraiser here: https://give.everydayhero.com/au/catsmith  All funds raised will come to the Heart Centre to help us to purchase a brand new cardiac ultrasound (echo) machine at long last.  It is amazing parents l... Mon, 30 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you-carol--john-and-luke- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you-carol--john-and-luke- The Echo Gala Dinner on Friday 13 September was a fantastic event.  There was a group of drummers who welcomed us in to the Grand Ballroom and gave us all musical instruments, followed by speeches, eating and drinking, then dancing until the wee hours.  The band were fabulous and included the Dad of one of our little patients.  And at just nine years old, another patient, Paris, blew the audience away with her story.  The feedback since the event has been very positive and it is all thanks to Carol, John and Luke who pulled the whole event together.  Thank you ve... Fri, 20 Sep 2013 12:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/kicking-goals-for-kids http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/kicking-goals-for-kids A 24-hour soccer marathon to raise money for The Children's Hospital at Westmead?  Brilliant idea!  One of our cardiac families ran a successful event last year and raised enough funds to purchase three new cardiac monitors for our ward.  This year they helped us again with this $5,000 cheque (being presented here to Karen Leclair and Gabbie Scarfe from the Heart Centre for Children) that will be put towards further equipment for Edgar Stephen Ward.  The organisers also supported two other departments within the hospital, sharing the love around.  Thank you from... Mon, 16 Sep 2013 14:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/in-the-news--carol-caleo http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/in-the-news--carol-caleo Carol Caleo and her family are doing an incredible job of organising the Echo Gala Dinner that will be held in the Sofitel Grand Ballroom this Friday night.  Her story made it into the local papers over the weekend, telling how she first came to know of the Heart Centre for Children (although it was called differently then) when her brother was diagnosed with a heart condition in the 1950's.  Sadly, he passed away in hospital all those years ago, but Carol's father and now Carol and her husband and sons are doing a lot to make sure that we have the best possible tools t... Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/staff-profile--dr-julian-ayer http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/staff-profile--dr-julian-ayer Curious about what makes a cardiologist tick, I asked one of ours, Dr Julian Ayer, a little bit about himself... Julian's job as a Pediatric Cardiologist involves: Assessing children and adults with heart disease Recommending types of treatment to improve the health of children and young adults with heart disease Obtaining high quality imaging of the heart to allow for planning and preparation of surgical and interventional cather procedures Teaching the next generation of doctors and nurses who will look after children with heart disease Undertaki... Fri, 06 Sep 2013 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/two-and-a-half-weeks-to-go http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/two-and-a-half-weeks-to-go The Echo Gala Dinner, which Carol Caleo and her wonderful family have been working on for months, is almost here!  We're very much looking forward to being there on the night as Carol's team do their utmost to get us across the line in our bid to purchase a new echo (cardiac ultrasound) machine.  Over 200 people have already purchased tickets, but there are a few more tables still up for grabs if you get in quick.  Head to www.echogaladinner.com or contact Carol on 0412 263 294 to purchase tickets. With live entertainment, some amazing charity auctions (big and... Tue, 27 Aug 2013 16:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/going-wild-at-the-color-run http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/going-wild-at-the-color-run Ten white-clad staff and supporters of the Heart Centre for Children were in Centennial Park first thing Sunday morning in the glorious sunshine with 20,000 others.  After a few mexican waves, cheers and roars we raced down the 5km track, straight into the Blue Zone where we were squirted with blue chalk, then on to Mellow Yellow, the Orange Zone, the Pink Zone and finally over the finish line, laughing and cheering.  It was a fun morning out that raised some money for the Heart Centre and had us all grinning.  It was great to see some of our patients and their familie... Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/more-books-needed http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/more-books-needed Do you have books at home that you don't want any more?  Children's books?  Novels for teenagers or adults?  Non-fiction books like cookbooks?  Please drop them off or send them in to us at the Heart Centre for Children.  They provide welcome distraction for people in our waiting room, who have the opportunity to purchase any of the books for just $2, and the proceeds go directly into new equipment and research.  Thank you in advance! For our address and other contact details, go to Contact Us ... Tue, 13 Aug 2013 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/city2surf-team-s-big-day http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/city2surf-team-s-big-day The sun was shining, birds were chirping and our six-strong City2Surf team made their way (with 85,000 of our closest friends) from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach yesterday in no time.  Phil and Charles sprinted to the finish, Lexi and Michelle followed soon after, and Nadine and I meandered our way to join them in our own good time as runners we are not.  We had a wonderful day though, a very warm welcome at the Bandaged Bear tent, and the satisfaction of knowing that with your support we raised almost $3,000 for the Heart Centre for Children. So thank you to all of our generous... Mon, 12 Aug 2013 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you-humpty-dumpty- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/thank-you-humpty-dumpty- A package arrived at the Heart Centre for Children with a little Humpty Dumpty Foundation logo on it today and the staff got really excited, because we know that it means one of the pieces of equipment that is on the Humpty Dumpty Foundation's wish list has been granted.  Much like a Christmas list, we have a wishlist of things that we're in need of to help us diagnose, treat and support the kids that we see.  This morning the package that arrived in the Heart Centre turned out to be four new holter monitors. Holter monitors are like ECG's - they measure the hea... Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/join-us-at-the-echo-gala-dinner- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/join-us-at-the-echo-gala-dinner- Some friends of the Heart Centre are busy putting the final touches to the Echo Gala Dinner at the Sofitel in Sydney on 13 September 2013.  It promises to be a fun and entertaining evening, raising money for a very good cause.  So come and join us!  More details and how to book a seat or table can be found at www.echogaladinner.com Thu, 08 Aug 2013 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/happy-birthday-corey- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/happy-birthday-corey- Not everyone celebrates their 13th birthday with the Parramatta Eels and a few Channel 7 cameras, but Corey Lake is not just anyone.  He's a brave young man who has been through a lot, including a heart transplant when he was just four years old and fighting off non-Hodgkins lymphoma a few years later.  Corey is back in hospital with us at the moment but can also be found on 7 News and in the Daily Telegraph!  Read more about his story here. ... Wed, 07 Aug 2013 15:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/city2surf-this-saturday http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/city2surf-this-saturday Some of the Heart Centre staff are once again joining more than 85,000 people to run, walk or crawl the 14km from Sydney city to Bondi beach.  We'll be getting up early on a Sunday to sweat it out with our peers as a fundraiser for the Heart Centre for Children, working towards our goal of purchasing a new cardiac ultrasound (echo) machine which cost almost $400,000.  We have raised just over $95,000 as of this week, so we're well on our way but we need your help.  Please sponsor us for the City2Surf here: https://city2surf2013.everydayhero.com/au/the-pacemakers. ... Tue, 06 Aug 2013 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/monty-s-story http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/monty-s-story The story of one of our little patients, Monty, features in the NSW Helicopter Reform Plan.  It's a touching tale because Monty went into cardiac shock at just seven days old and had to be rushed to The Children's Hospital at Westmead from Wyong.  That's when we first met Monty and fell in love with the little guy, who pulled through just fine.  To read Monty's story go to Page 20 of the Helicopter Reform Plan. ... Wed, 31 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/gala-dinner-success- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/gala-dinner-success- A huge THANK YOU to Rachael, Belinda and Erin who organised the fabulous Zipper Tickers gala dinner in Newcastle this weekend.  The venue was stunning, speeches touching and guests generous.  It was a huge success in raising much-needed funds for an echo machine for the Heart Centre for Children, and a credit to the wonderful organisers.  There are a few photos available via The Herald and should be more to come. Photo (right): Rachael Coyte telling her story.  Photo taken by Funky Kidz Photography. ... Mon, 29 Jul 2013 10:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/our-heart-babies--by-nurse-julie- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/our-heart-babies--by-nurse-julie- Julie, one of our lovely nurses, was inspired to write a few words about a little patient that visited recently and who made a big impact...  Our Heart Babies Baby T came to visit today.  With her rosy cheeks, cheeky smile and big angel eyes.  Daddy proudly placed her on the ground and said "Julie, look!  She's a walker!"  And with that, T toddled towards me, arms outstretched, eager and giggling. I crouched down as she walked confidently to me and fell into my arms, looking so proud of herself.  We cuddled and she never once pulled... Thu, 18 Jul 2013 17:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congratulations-nichole-and-glen- http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/congratulations-nichole-and-glen- Nichole and Glen, parents of little Mosiah who sadly passed away in early 2009, recently set themselves a fundraising goal of $3,000 for the Heart Centre for Children.  They geared up for the Suncorp Gold Coast 5.7km run on the 6th of July and put the word out there about their aim.  I was delighted to come back from leave this week to see that they absolutely smashed their target, and have raised a grand total of $3,887!  Congratulations guys, you've done an amazing job and I can't wait to hear about how your first fun run went! For more information or to send... Wed, 17 Jul 2013 17:00:00 +1000 http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/in-the-news http://www.heartcentreforchildren.com.au/blog/in-the-news The Parramatta Sun came to The Children's Hospital at Westmead to meet with families and medical staff, and to find out more about the Echo Gala Dinner in September.  Click here for the article. Wed, 10 Jul 2013 12:00:00 +1000