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 pacemaker can intervene instantaneously.  It's really important that our patients have these so thank you again for the purchases and donations.  We raised $1,051 today so we need just $4,449 more to purchase another pacemaker!...

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.  These oximeters are vital for us to be able to monitor the child’s oxygen levels while they’re at home between surgeries.  This is one of many measures that helps us to plan when the child might require their next surgery. We need three more pulse oximeters, and Rachael and David's guests were so generous that we will be able to purchase not one but two of these gre...

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 enough for this incredible gift to the Heart Centre.  It will allow us to see more patients with the latest technology, to look inside the heart of an unborn baby, an infant, a child or a teenager in a painless and non-invasive way, to make clinical decisions about treatment and to confirm that surgery has been successful.  It is a milestone for us and one that we couldn't have done wit...

"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 like Catriona doing amazing things like this triathlon that make all the difference.  Please give generously. Photo: Catriona with her little fighter, Monty ...

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 very much to the three of you and everyone who supported the Echo Gala Dinner.  We look forward to knowing the final fundraising figure, which I'm sure will bring us very close to buying the much-needed echo machine. Photo: Dr Steve Cooper with little Jimmy who was on the dancefloor as his Dad's band took the stage at the Echo Gala Dinner ...

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 the bottom of our hearts for a day of fun and fundraising!

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 to help children like Carol's brother into the future. If you're interested in grabbing a last-minute ticket to Friday's extravaganza, please head to www.echogaladinner.com. Photo: Dr Steve Cooper with little Jimmy, one of the patients whose parents will be attending the gala dinner. ...

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 Undertaking high quality research to improve the cardiovascular health of children and young adults When I asked Julian why he became a pediatric cardiologist, he said that it is because it is a job that allows him to undertake the three things he loves about medicine all at once: being a doctor for kids, teaching the next generation of doctors for kids, and research. He said he was lucky enough to w...

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 small) and a lavish meal at the Sofitel, it's sure to be a night to remember.  And having met nine-year-old Paris last week, I know that her story is one you definitely want to hear. See you there! Photo: little Jimmy, whose parents will be at the Echo Gala Dinner in support of the fundraising efforts being undertaken to help us diagnose and treat more little ones like him ...