Hole In The Heart

Approximately 1 in 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect (CHDs), making CHDs the most common birth defect.

Congenital heart defects occur 60 times more often than childhood cancer, with their prevalence steadily rising among infants.

OUR STORY

Our journey with congenital heart disease (CHD) began when our oldest son was unexpectedly diagnosed with a CHD at the age of 15. By then, his heart had already endured years of silent struggle, and the road ahead was anything but easy. Our family became too familiar with years of a long and difficult battle with childhood chronic illness—one that tested his strength, our resilience, and the healthcare system meant to support families like ours.

Navigating CHD as a teenager came with immense challenges. Late diagnosis meant years of unanswered questions, missed opportunities for early intervention, and complex medical decisions that no family should have to face alone. We quickly realized that New Mexico lacked the specialized care, resources, and advocacy that CHD patients desperately need. Timely diagnosis of CHD among children and young adults is the key to better physical and mental health outcomes.

Fueled by our experience, we founded Hole in the Heart to change the landscape of CHD care in our state. Through advocacy, education, and community outreach, we are fighting for New Mexico families—ensuring that every CHD patient has the support, resources, and care they need.

Our son’s journey showed us firsthand the gaps in CHD care, but it also ignited our passion to make a difference. Hole in the Heart exists so that no other family has to walk this path alone.

To read more about the Fahrlenders’ CHD journey, CLICK HERE: Solving a Medical Mystery: Repairing This Common Birth Defect Transformed a Boy’s Life

OUR MISSION

Raise awareness about the various types of holes in the heart and other congenital heart defects, and how they impact the lives of children, adolescents, and young adults.

Build partnerships to improve timely detection of holes in the heart and other congenital heart defects.

Advocate best practices for the timely detection and diagnosis of congenital heart defects.

DONATE

Your donation to Hole in the Heart directly supports families affected by congenital heart defects (CHDs) and drives meaningful change in CHD care across New Mexico. Every contribution helps us grow essential programs like CHD education for providers, CHD advocacy, and the creation of valuable resources for parents. By giving, you’re not only raising awareness—you’re helping save lives, close critical care gaps, and ensure that no family faces CHD alone. Together, we can build a future where every child with a heart defect receives the care they deserve.

Hole in the Heart is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (EIN/tax ID number: 85-3439156). Your donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.