Our Story
The Schmidt Healing Hearts Foundation was born out of the profound challenges we faced during Ryder’s fight against CTEPH. Witnessing the emotional and financial strain on families like ours, we aim to provide support to young adults navigating rare diseases by offering hospital care packages and financial assistance for travel and medical costs.
We believe in the resilience of young adults facing rare diseases. We envision a world where they receive the care and support they need to thrive and pursue their dreams.
Our Mission
Empower individuals and their families with essential knowledge and resources while fostering a strong peer support network. We advocate for early diagnosis, effective treatments, increase public awareness, and fund research to enhance the quality of life for those with Heart Failure, Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH), Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease, and/or any complications from the stated diagnoses requiring an organ transplant(s). As the foundation works to get up and running our primary focus will be supplying specialty hospitals with a pop up twin bed on wheels, bedding, pillow, a Starbucks gift card so one parent/guardian is comfortable staying at the hospital with their child.
Our long term goal is to assist with medical and travel expenses for patients and families to specialized care facilities, non-pharmacologic alternative therapies, and promote community education to ensure comprehensive care. Together we strive for a future where no young person faces this alone.
Our Vision
To create a community where no young adult battling a rare disease feels alone or financially burdened, and where they can access the resources necessary to live a fulfilling and hopeful life.