Latest News

As Karter celebrates his 14th birthday this month, we’re honoring a journey that has been anything but ordinary. Born with multiple congenital heart defects, Karter has spent his life showing incredible strength through challenges no child should ever have to face. At just two days old, Karter was airlifted where he had an emergent procedure to place a stent in a blood vessel that was supposed to close after birth. In November 2012, Karter was transferred to a Children’s Hosp

August is a bright and fiery 6-year-old boy living with cystic fibrosis. He has spent much of 2026 in the Intensive Care Unit fighting a multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas infection. In May, August was transferred to a higher level of care so a specialized infectious disease team could treat him. Within three weeks, his condition worsened, and he went into acute respiratory failure and was placed on ECMO. Just two days later, August was listed for a double lung transplant. Augu

Sofia’s story is one of bravery, resilience, and strength. Born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), Sofia underwent her first open-heart surgery shortly after birth and at just four months old, she underwent her second major heart surgery. At age three, Sofia underwent a heart catheterization to help determine the timing of her Fontan operation. Instead, her family learned that she was not a suitable candidate and would need a heart transplant. After 295 days in the

At Schmidt Healing Hearts Foundation, we believe some of the strongest missions are born from life’s most difficult journeys. Today, we are honored to spotlight and support Love From Lincoln, an incredible organization created from one family’s experience navigating pediatric heart failure and transplantation. On February 13, 2024, Lincoln’s life changed unexpectedly when he was brought to a local hospital with shortness of breath, a fast heart rate, and stomach pain. His fam

Navid’s story is one of perseverance, courage, and hope Diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome at his 20-week anatomy scan, Navid and his family have faced challenges from the very beginning. By the age of four, Navid had already undergone three major heart surgeries, including the Fontan procedure in November 2024. When that surgery was unsuccessful, his journey took an unexpected turn. In March 2025, Navid was admitted to the hospital with heart failure and never ma

Violet’s story started before she was even born 🫀 Diagnosed in utero with extremely rare congenital heart defects, Violet entered the world already facing more than most. She has Ebstein’s anomaly, a complex tricuspid valve condition causing severe leakage and right heart enlargement, along with pulmonary stenosis. After countless scans, consultations, and difficult decisions, her parents and care team prepared for a high-risk delivery while also managing Jessica’s own healt

February is Heart Month ♥️, and today we’re honored to share Weston’s story. Weston was born on September 29, 2025, a sweet baby who, within weeks, would face more than most do in a lifetime. What began on October 28th, 2025, as sleepiness and feeding changes quickly turned into a fight for his life. After emergency care for hypothermia and dyspnea at one ER, to be Life Flighted to another state. Weston was diagnosed with heart failure due to his left ventricle being enlarged

Claire’s medical journey began before birth, when prenatal imaging revealed a rare and severe congenital heart condition, including hypoplastic left heart syndrome and multiple additional cardiac defects. With an uncertain prognosis and no curative treatment available, she underwent her first open-heart surgery just hours after birth, followed by a prolonged and complicated recovery that included life-support measures during her first days of life. Over the following years, C

Gracie is 11 years old and from Minnesota! At a young age of 4 months old Gracie was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Her treatment plan included medications and a feeding tube. In October of 2025, her physicians concluded that her heart would not be able to keep up with her growing body. On October 16th, 2025, Gracie was officially listed for a heart transplant. Four weeks and one day later Gracie and family got the call. Her heart transplant took place on November 17t

Bri’s Journey started when she was 20 years old, three years ago. She had four foot surgeries and then started to develop very intense chest pain and palpitations. She arrived at the emergency room, and a CTA scan was done right away. The finding on the scan was an anomalous right coronary artery sitting between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Bri was admitted to a local hospital in South Dakota and then transferred to Minnesota. While in Minnesota, she had an unroofing p

Our first annual Schmidt Healing Hearts Golf Tournament was a huge success, bringing together supporters, sponsors, and friends for a day...

The first recipient of the Schmidt Healing Hearts Foundation is a special one. Her story is one of courage, perseverance, and strength. We could not be more honored to support her on this path, and we are endlessly proud to walk beside her. A Journey of Grit and Grace At a young age, Jen was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. At the young age of eight, Jen’s lungs were attacked by a relentless bacteria that is very difficult to eradicate. She started to miss a lot of school and

WDAY - Cullen Holt - Ryder's Story Having us all together during the holidays was truly an incredible experience that brought a sense of...

What a completely wild and surreal day…if you don’t like anatomy I would maybe skip over this update. That’s right everyone, today was...

Gratitude for Ryder Schmidt's Benefit - Thank you to everyone who attended and supported Ryder on his path to recovery.

Gus makes his first official trip to Rochester to meet his person. Clearly Ryder was thirlled to meet him.

Therapy puppy, Gus arrives. Also known as "Gus the Bus!"

After 35 days in the hospital. 22 days in the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit. 13 days in the Cardiac-Progressive Care Unit. 14 IV...

I was a perfectly normal 21-year-old in nursing school, or so I thought, but in April of 2024, I noticed my health started to decline, I...