Blog posts in Media

Lunch in the Heart of Sydney

Sep 04 2023

Lunch in the Heart of Sydney Friday 29th September 2023 This year the Heart Centre for Children and Kids Heart Research are coordinating our firs...

Rising Star Award

Feb 22 2022

We would like to congratulate Dr Gillian Blue from Kids Heart Research, Heart Centre for Children who was awarded the Rising Star Award at the 2021...

Team Harley - City2Surf 2017

Jun 27 2017

Mum Danielle puts it beautifully: "Why we started Team Harley: To raise awareness for Congenital Heart Disease in memory of our amazing...

Our new Heart Lung Machine

Posted by Kylie Flament on 22 April 2016

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:

Posted in:Equipment Fundraisers Media Patients Thank You's

Our New Cardiac Suite

Posted by Kylie Flament on 19 November 2015

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 need be. The Parramatta Sun interviewed the mother of one of our patients about it. That story here. ...

Posted in:Equipment Media Thank You's

Fontan for Life

Posted on 26 November 2013

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 during a campaign called ‘Fontan for Life’ which aims to raise $200,000 for the registry. The Fontan procedure is a lifesaving medical technique used to treat children born with certain serious heart defects. The procedure involves restructuring the heart so that it can operate effectively using only one ventricle, or pumping chamber, as opposed to two. The Fontan procedure is relative...

Posted in:Research Fundraisers How you can help Media Patients

Monty at the Radiothon

Posted by Kylie Flament on 13 November 2013

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!!

Posted in:Fundraisers Media Patients

2UE Radiothon 13 November

Posted by Kylie Flament on 4 November 2013

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://www.2ue.com.au/childrenshospitalappeal.

Posted in:Fundraisers How you can help Media

Organ Donation article

Posted by Kylie Flament on 4 November 2013

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/

Posted in:Media Patients

In the news: Carol Caleo

Posted by Kylie Flament on 9 September 2013

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. ...

Posted in:Fundraisers Media

Monty's story

Posted by Kylie Flament on 31 July 2013

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.

Posted in:Media Patients

Gala Dinner success!

Posted by Kylie Flament on 29 July 2013

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.

Posted in:Fundraisers Media Thank You's

In the news

Posted by Kylie Flament on 10 July 2013

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.