Asher's Heart Foundation helps parents whose children suffer from a congenital heart defect. | Unsplash/Omar Lopez
Asher's Heart Foundation helps parents whose children suffer from a congenital heart defect. | Unsplash/Omar Lopez
A couple from Cotton Grove who lost their son to a congenital heart defect seven years ago started a foundation to help families in a similar situation, including one father who has been struggling recently with a child with a congenital defect during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a report by WKOW, Asher’s Heart Foundation was started about seven years ago after Angela and Tony Steinhauer lost their infant son to a rare disease called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome. The baby, named Asher, was born on Feb. 2, 2015 and died only 24 days into his life.
Sam Steinich volunteers for the foundation but this hits home especially to him as his daughter was born with a congenital heart defect this past year. His baby had open heart surgery in June and Steinich said it was “an intense steam of emotions.” He said this has all been intensified by the pandemic.
“We actually received the Asher's heart Beads of Courage and it meant so much to our family that I'm inspired to give back to families," Steinich said to WKOW.
The Steinhauers started the foundation soon after their son died. The organization was designed to help families with children born with congenital heart defects through things like heart pillows, cards and “Beads of Courage.” Angela Steinhauer said she hopes that her son would be proud of the organization named after him. She said a motivational aspect of putting together the foundation was because she doesn’t get to be with her son anymore. She said to WKOW that it is a way to be able to have his legacy live on to help others.
February is American Heart Month and according to the Center for Disease Control, congenital heart defects are the most common type of death defect. Babies now live longer with the heart defects due to advancements in medical care, but often need surgery in the first year of life. About 25% of babies born with a heart defect has a critical congenital heart defect, requiring surgery and other procedures. The CDC reported that about 1% of babies born each year have congenital heart defects.
Since its inception, Asher’s Heart Foundation has raised more than $130,000.
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