HeartGift

KIDS HELPING KIDS: Under the leadership of owner Bashnin Sherali, Ivy Kids of Alamo Ranch and Ivy Kids at Stone Oak, both in the San Antonio metro area, recently organized a diaper drive to support HeartGift families. Thanks to the generosity of students, parents, and staff, boxes, boxes, and more boxes of diapers were collected for HeartGift San Antonio patients who often arrive with very little.

This partnership is a beautiful example of a community coming together to care for others. We are so grateful to Bashnin and everyone who contributed—your kindness helps make our mission possible.

Every gift truly makes a difference! 💙 Thank you, Ivy Kids!

In the News! We’re honored to be featured in West Austin News, highlighting Party with a Purpose and the incredible community that brought our annual gala to life for a record-setting year. From our generous supporters to every guest in the room, this event is a true reflection of what’s possible when people come together for a cause.

Thank you, West Austin News, for sharing HeartGift’s story and helping amplify our mission. 💙

Read the full article here: https://westaustinnews.com/events/heartgift-raises-over-1-million-to-fund-life-saving-heart-care/

For three years, Joshua’s mom, Johana, lived with the quiet, constant fear every parent dreads — never knowing what each day might bring for her child. The uncertainty, the worry, the waiting … it’s a weight no family should have to carry.

Today, that story began to change. ❤️

As Joshua went into surgery, Johana waited, holding her breath for the moment the surgeon came out to tell her everything went well.

Johana’s relief was overwhelming and unmistakable.

This is why HeartGift’s mission matters. Joshua now has the chance to simply be a kid again: to run, play, and grow without limitations. 😇

PAST PATIENT UPDATE: Nearly 20 years after her life-saving HeartGift surgery, Christy reached out to us to share her latest news. ❤️🎁

When she was 7, Christy traveled from Honduras to the US to treat the four defects in her heart surgically. Now married with a precious daughter of her own, her journey is a powerful reminder of the ripple effect of healing. Her story doesn’t just end with her… it continues with the life she’s built and the family she’s created. From being a little girl seeking care, to having a little girl to be able to care for.

What a beautiful testament to the impact of that care! We luv, luv, luv to get these types
of messages! 😆

Guess who’s 100?

Well, not really. Joshua is actually HeartGift San Antonio’s 100th child and we’re celebrating in style! From silly hats to smiles, moments like these are a reminder that even in the middle of a medical journey… kids get to just be kids. ❤️

Little Joshua took on a full day of pre-op appointments—some poking and prodding, a little weighing and measuring, and a lot of looking and listening. We’re so grateful for the incredible team at University Health, who bring joy into the hospital space and remind us that healing should feel human, too.

Stay tuned … Joshua’s story is just getting started. ✨

A full-circle moment!

When Advisory Board Member first got involved with HeartGift many years ago, he sponsored HeartGift San Antonio’s very first child. Today, alongside his wife Kerry, they are sponsoring San Antonio’s 100th child … 3-year-old Joshua from Honduras and making his life-saving surgery possible.

Joe and Kerry didn’t just sponsor Joshua’s journey—they showed up in every way, from an airport welcome and numerous hospital visits to thoughtful gifts and a going away dinner.

Thank you, Joe and Kerry Mims, and their entire family, for the lasting support. Their generosity continues to open doors for children like Joshua—proving that one act of kindness can ripple for years to come. ❤️

Join us in welcoming Joshua!

A HUGE thank you to Karen Matney Brown and Jack Brown for bringing the sweet side of Party with a Purpose! As the event’s official dessert sponsor, you kept the energy high and the smiles even higher. Safe to say… no one skipped a decadent dessert that night! 🍰

We’re so grateful for the Brown's support and the delicious sweetness you always bring to HeartGift.

🌍 Collaboration Across Continents!

Recently, HeartGift staff and Board members traveled nearly 9,000 miles to Nairobi, Kenya, to witness the impact firsthand of our growing global partnerships. From the moment they arrived, we were welcomed with incredible warmth, celebration, and love. 💙

That impact is growing in extraordinary ways. In Kenya, what once allowed us to serve about 30 children each year has expanded to more than 250 children annually—transforming access to high-quality pediatric heart care—bringing life-saving heart surgery closer to home for children who need it most.

At HeartGift, our mission goes beyond surgery. We are committed to building sustainable programs, training local medical teams, and supporting systems of care that ensure children can receive treatment close to home—not just today, but for generations to come.

More children. More hope. Exponential impact.