Little Hearts Medical

While I was in Beijing, I had the privilege of meeting Andrea Olson, Executive Director for Little Hearts Medical, and fellow adoptive mom.

Little Hearts Medical was founded in 2012.  Founders Mike and Tanya Lee have 3 Chinese children born with complex congenital heart disease.  Andrea met the Lees in 2007, when both families adopted children from the same orphanage in Jiangxi.

The primary mission of Little Hearts Medical is the sharing of knowledge between the team of pediatric cardiologists and surgeons from the United States and those in China, accomplished through medical and training missions.  Their team provides echocardiograms, heart catheterizations, and open heart surgeries to children in China (primarily in Beijing).

One exciting function of Little Hearts that I want to tell prospective adoptive parents about is that they review files of children with heart conditions!  This generous free service helps PAPs better understand the condition of the child they are considering and make a decision whether that child is a good fit for their family or not.  They have provided 92 cardiac case summaries so far this year!

In September, Little Hearts presented the Little Hearts Medical/Holt International Children's Services Love You More Cardiac Care presentation in Shanghai, at the CCCWA's National Children's Welfare Institute Therapy Training Conference.  If the phrase "Love You More" sounds familiar, it's because Ann Bartlinski, Theresa's mom, is involved with Little Hearts, too.  This event is just one example of how Little Hearts is partnering with CCCWA, provincial civil affairs bureaus, and social welfare institutes, to bring hope and help to children with heart conditions in China.

Follow Little Hearts Medical on Facebook to keep up with what they're doing, and how you can participate!

Little Hearts recently fundraised to purchase new surgical loupes for Dr. Zhou, Chief of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery at BaYi Children's Hospital in Beijing!

I spoke with Andrea the morning after she had presented this important medical equipment to Dr. Zhou, and she said he's been in need of a new set for 9 years.  Can you imagine?  

Here are a couple of heart kids in need of families that we met on the trip:  

This precious girl's file is in the process of being made.  I told my family that if I could sneak one of the kids into my suitcase, it would have been this one.  I held my camera up at lunch the first day, and she gave me this grin.  Methinks she's used to having her picture taken!

This little guy goes by the advocacy name Eugene.  He's 5 years old, and his file is with Holt International.  If you are interested in learning more about Eugene, you can contact Jessica at Holt, or Andrea of Little Hearts.  

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