In the spirit of World Heart Day and following its mandate to raise awareness and educate people about the transplant journey, pioneering non-profit Ava’s Heart Foundation, the only 501c3 in the United States that provides extensive support for transplant patients and their families pre-and-post lifesaving organ transplants, is hosting Ava’s Heart to Heart Forum on September 29, 2015. The FREE informational community event, provides people with a rare opportunity to hear from and interact leading heart transplant doctors from UCLA, heart transplant recipients and their families, a patient with an Artificial Heart waiting for his heart transplant, and more!
Taking place from 10:00am to Noon at UCLA’s Garden Of Peace which is located in The Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center at 757 Westwood Boulevard in Los Angeles, the event is open to anyone involved with or interested in the little known world of heart transplant and how and why Southern California is at the forefront of this ever-changing life changing field.
Esteemed participants include Ava Kaufman, the remarkable founder of Ava’s Heart who has dedicated her second chance at life, after receiving the heart of a 17 year old boy, to helping other transplant candidates, recipients and their families. Six years ago Ava was healthy, vibrant and full of life one day; the next, she was going to die unless she received a new heart. This can happen to anyone at any time. #ItCouldBeYou.
The Transplant Journey, a new booklet written by Ava to help others understand what to expect and how to navigate through their own personal transplant journey or that of a loved one, will also launch during the forum and coinciding with World Heart Day.
Joining Ava are Dr. Juan Carlos Alejo, Director of The Pediatric Heart and Heart-Lung Transplant Program at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, who will speak about how many babies and children need hearts, the process, and why his patient, little Jessica, needed two. Jessica Ostrand, Dr. Alejo’s 11-year-old patient who successfully received her second heart transplant, will share her personal story and what it feels like to have had two heart transplants at such a young age. Her mother, Stephanie, will discuss what it is like to have a child in need of a heart and how Ava’s Heart has helped Jessica and their family. Dr. Mario Deng, Medical Director at UCLA, Adult Mechanical Circulatory Support and Heart Transplant Program, will also be on hand to discuss and demonstrate new mechanical devices such as the Artificial Heart and how they are enabling people to stay alive while waiting for their new heart. Lisa Fujimoto, Executive Vice President of Change a Life Foundation, which has enabled Ava’s Heart to help dozens of transplant patients and their families through its partnership, will also participate.
Rising designer Mr. Penny Cai of The Luxtrada Company whose stunning Bikini Sandals proved to be a hit with celebrities at the recent Emmys, including Best Actress in a Dramatic Series Winner Viola Davis, will also be in attendance with his partners to announce their new philanthropic partnership with Ava’s Heart.
