About us
Safe & smart transition is our mission
What We Do
The Road to Transition
The Road to Transition workbook is an educational tool that introduces kids with CHD to being involved in their own health care plan.
The Parent Checklist
Connected at the Heart:
A story for kids living with congenital heart disease
Support children & teens living with congenital heart disease by purchasing CONNECTED AT THE HEART and Blue, the comfort bear, featured in this new book written during a 2HEARTS writer’s workshop by teens living with CHD.
Timmy was born with congenital heart disease, and he fears getting poked and prodded at the hospital. But today’s visit at the cardiology clinic is different. Timmy meets some new friends who give him comfort and advice. With Blues, his special teddy bear, by his side, Timmy realizes he is not alone in his battle.
Connected at the Heart was written during a workshop sponsored by 2HEARTS, a non-profit serving pre-teens and teens living with CHD. The teens wrote a story they wished they’d had as young children living with heart defects.
Included in the back of the book is a glossary and a section for your young heart warrior to write their own story and advice.
Buy Connected at the Heart and Blue!
Don’t have room on your bookshelf? No problem!
Purchase a book & bear for a young child living with CHD and 2HEARTS will deliver it. You can even include a special note or inspiring message.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Jamie Gulick
Heather M Anderson
Elizabeth Yeung, MD
Dr. Joseph Kay
Jeremy R. Nicolarsen, M.D.
Max Mitchell, MD
Molly Wallrich, BSN, RN, CPN
Dale De Leo
Katherine Frost
Ginny Crise
Founding Story
My name is Jamie Gulick and I am one of the Co-Founders of 2HEARTS.
Heather and I met a couple of years ago while we were volunteering for another agency. We had an instant connection and we shared all the challenges and the joy of growing up and living with CHD. Although we have tremendously different stories, we both shared many of the challenges of being a teen with CHD. We realized how little resources there are out there for teens with CHD. Teens who are trying to find themselves and learn how to thrive, despite living with a heart defect.
We all know that being a teenager can be tough. I am sure all of us have some painful and probably embarrassing memories from our teen years. In addition to all the normal teenage insecurities and emotions, these teens have to worry about ongoing doctor appointments and tests, how to make up all their homework they missed while they were stuck in a hospital bed for a week, what to say when people ask about their scars, the fears of upcoming surgeries and the fear of their often unknown future. It is a lot to handle. Especially when you are 12.
A 12 year old should be playing outside, not stuck in a hospital bed or at home; a 12 year old should be discovering the activities they enjoy – joining sports teams, dancing, art classes – not being too tired to see their friends or participate in school activities, and a 12 year old should be worrying about their math homework, not worrying about the results from their last doctor appointment.
For children and teenagers with congenital heart disease, this is their reality. I know this both from my own personal experience and from getting to know our teens through 2HEARTS. 2HEARTS is here to make them feel supported and not alone. To teach them the skills they need as they grow up and take responsibility for themselves and their own healthcare.
Parents, doctors and surgeons have spent countless hours and resources on how to extend the quantity of these kids life. Now they need to be given the skills so they can go out and conquer the world and experience all the amazing things life has to offer.
The medical community has given them the chance to survive, now let’s show then how to live!
Founding Story
My name is Jamie Gulick and I am one of the Co-Founders of 2HEARTS.
Heather and I met a couple of years ago while we were volunteering for another agency. We had an instant connection and we shared all the challenges and the joy of growing up and living with CHD. Although we have tremendously different stories, we both shared many of the challenges of being a teen with CHD. We realized how little resources there are out there for teens with CHD. Teens who are trying to find themselves and learn how to thrive, despite living with a heart defect.
We all know that being a teenager can be tough. I am sure all of us have some painful and probably embarrassing memories from our teen years. In addition to all the normal teenage insecurities and emotions, these teens have to worry about ongoing doctor appointments and tests, how to make up all their homework they missed while they were stuck in a hospital bed for a week, what to say when people ask about their scars, the fears of upcoming surgeries and the fear of their often unknown future. It is a lot to handle. Especially when you are 12.
A 12 year old should be playing outside, not stuck in a hospital bed or at home; a 12 year old should be discovering the activities they enjoy – joining sports teams, dancing, art classes – not being too tired to see their friends or participate in school activities, and a 12 year old should be worrying about their math homework, not worrying about the results from their last doctor appointment.
For children and teenagers with congenital heart disease, this is their reality. I know this both from my own personal experience and from getting to know our teens through 2HEARTS. 2HEARTS is here to make them feel supported and not alone. To teach them the skills they need as they grow up and take responsibility for themselves and their own healthcare.
Parents, doctors and surgeons have spent countless hours and resources on how to extend the quantity of these kids life. Now they need to be given the skills so they can go out and conquer the world and experience all the amazing things life has to offer.
The medical community has given them the chance to survive, now let’s show then how to live!
