LJ’s Healing Hearts Masks

My name is Betsy Shannon and I'm a heart mom. My daughter, Lucy, was born with a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. In her first year of life, Lucy underwent three open heart surgeries. At three years-old, Lucy had spent more than 250 days in the hospital. By four years-old, she went into early heart failure, and in April of 2018, she received a life-saving heart transplant. Through our journey we have experienced extended hospital stays, unpaid leave, costly formula, medical bills and unpredictable circumstances. All of these have had a large financial impact. Even as a family with two working parents, we often thought, “How will we afford this?”

Every step of the way we have felt supported; emotionally and financially. As the #1 birth defect, affecting nearly 40,000 babies per year, we knew that many families experience the same financial hardships, but there was little in the way of assistance. We wanted to offer families, from all walks, financial assistance when it's needed. And so, LJ’s Healing Hearts was born.

LJ’s Healing Hearts is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that is 100% funded by the donations and sponsorships we receive. Our mission is to provide financial support to families affected by congenital heart defects (CHDs). Congenital heart defects are problems with the hearts structure that are present at birth. Additionally, LJ’s Healing Hearts does many other things for CHD families. Such as funds the Beads of Courage program at Advocate Children's Hospital, funds tiny parking passes at Ann and Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital, donates Brave Gowns to Chicagoland hospitals and so much more! All net proceeds from purchasing a mask goes directly to LJ's Healing Hearts.

Please go to LJ's Healing Hearts to learn more about our foundation. Thank you!