Gift of Life-Los Angeles, previously known as Music for Heart, has grown tremendously since its inception in 2003. It was established by Craig & Brenda Small, as their way of giving back following the successful open-heart surgery of their youngest daughter, Delaney-Kate Small.
In 2006, the organization became one of the 60+ worldwide affiliates of Gift of Life International. The program has grown rapidly and is proud to report that more than 200 children from 5 different countries have received the gift of life. Globally, Gift of Life International has saved the lives of more than 11,500 children.
Our mission is to establish a sustainable pediatric cardiac surgery program in El Salvador, and to empower the Salvadorian medical professionals to care for their won Salvadorian children by the year 2015. In addition to life-saving heart surgeries, Gift of Life goes beyond the walls of the hospital to provide nutritional and humanitarian aid to the children and their families.
Implemented in February 2010, the ‘Our Hearts Are In El Salvador’ global initiative works towards fulfilling our mission. In October 2010, an international conference was held to establish a strategic plan formulated for the development of the sustainable program. Five medical training missions will be scheduled for each year for the next five years, along with a formal training program for the nurses caring for the children. All open-heart surgeries are performed at Bloom Hospital, the ONLY children’s hospital in the country of El Salvador, and all non-invasive surgeries are performed at Hospital Diagnostico. To further ensure a healthy future for the children who receive a second chance at life, the most needy families are placed our nutritional program, which provides a monthly supply of food and vitamins for the children and their families.
In 2010 alone, the lives of 117 Salvadorian children were saved. We look forward to a future in continuing to save these precious lives, but we need YOUR help. You can get involved by visiting our website and/or making a donation in honor of our 2011 24-Hour No-Sleep-A-Thon, an event in which volunteers will stay up for 24 hours in honor of the families who lose sleep over their sick children.
These precious children are born with a heart defect, but not necessarily a death sentence. We invite you to join us in the fight against CHD, and change the world, one heart at a time.
