Title: With heartfelt thanks - Groups help children with congenital heart disease Author: Alicia Doyle Correspondent Date: March 22, 2007 Section: Community After Brenda and Craig Small's daughter was diagnosed with congenital heart disease and later recovered after open-heart surgery, they launched the Delaney Kate Honorary Heart Fund to help other children who suffer from the potentially fatal disease.Delaney is now 5, and the nonprofit organization her parents founded has teamed with the Rotary Club of Agoura Hills/Oak Park to raise money for a mission to El Salvador that will train medical professionals to perform heart surgeries on children. "The beauty of it is not only will they be able to save the lives of 15 to 20 children at a time in one mission … they will start a training program so these doctors are fully trained and self-sufficient to save all cardiac kids," said Brenda Small of Agoura Hills. Statistically, one out of every 100 children born worldwide suffers from some form of congenital heart disease, she added. "This number is even more heart wrenching when you consider that the majority of countries have neither the resources, nor the medical technology available, to treat these precious children," she said. Benefit scheduled April 22 Every Rotary chapter is encouraged to take on international projects, said Frank Littman, community services coordinator for the Rotary Club of Agoura Hills/Oak Park. "The Smalls got us into meeting the needs of kids with congenital heart defects because they have their own foundation as a result of their own child having a problem," Littman said. "We're very touched by what happened to Craig and Brenda and what they're doing as a result." The groups have partnered to present "Music for Heart," a benefit concert featuring entertainment, dinner, silent and live auctions, slide shows and celebrity guest appearances from 3 to 8 p.m. April 22 at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. Organizers hope to raise at least $50,000 with the fundraiser. Most of the money will sponsor a medical training mission with the help of Gift of Life International, a Rotary-based organization in which an expert cardio-thoracic medical and surgical team will travel from the United States to El Salvador. "During this mission, not only will the lives of 15 to 20 cardiac children be saved, but the expert medical team will begin to train medical professionals in El Salvador who, in time, will be able to conduct necessary life changing corrective heart surgeries on children in their own country," said Littman. The remainder of the money will enable several children to be flown to America for corrective heart surgery. Help for children around the world "We want to make a difference and help save the lives of children around the world who suffer from congenital heart disease," Brenda Small said. "Without help, these children will perish." That was the reality she and her husband faced when Delaney Kate, the youngest of their three children, was diagnosed with congenital heart disease when she was a week old. The girl's successful recovery from corrective open-heart surgery was a miracle and second chance at life, Brenda Small said. "When we knew she was going to be fine, we decided to do something to make a difference and say ‘thank you' because everything happens for a reason," she said. "So we started a fund in her name … to help other kids." Since the fund was established in 2003, the organization has played a key role in saving the lives of 10 children from various countries, most of whom the Smalls have had direct contact with during the childrens' stays in America. "The most amazing part is that a lot of these kids can't even walk when they get off the airplane; they are hanging by a thread," Brenda Small said. "By the time they go home, they are so healthy they are walking, jumping and running. It's such a miracle." The Agoura Hills/ Oak Park Rotary and the foundation named for Delaney Kate are sponsoring Music for Heart, a benefit to send a medical team to El Salvador. Author: Alicia Doyle Correspondent Section: Community Copyright, 2007, Ventura County Star