By Molly Grantham

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Twenty-month-old Savannah Shipman went into heart failure at just three weeks old and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD).

The diagnosis came after her mother had a perfectly healthy pregnancy.

”As a new mom, I’d never heard of CHD,” Amanda said. “I’ve now made it my mission to tell Savvy’s story and spread CHD awareness. We’ve done a lot in the month of February…including dressing Savannah in 28 days of heart outfits, for 28 days of facts.”

Amanda now knows the reality of having a baby with a CHD. But originally, had no idea what “CHD” stood for or any of its implications.

”We knew there was an issue when she would continually vomit all her milk,” Amanda said. “We took her to the doctor thinking she had reflux issues. Our pediatrician immediately admitted us to the hospital, and I thank God for him, because he was the first person to recognize Savvy needed big help.”

After a few days in the hospital, Amanda and her husband learned Savannah had a hole in her heart (a ventricular septal defect). It’s a pretty common heart defect, as far as heart defects go, and a plan was set into place to first see a cardiologist, then get Savannah a little bigger and eating more, and then finally schedule open-heart surgery for her when she hit six months old.

Savannah, however, had different plans. Her tiny heart couldn’t handle the food or a blood transfusion, and she moved forward with that involved surgery only seven weeks after her birth.

”She came out of surgery and a week later, we realized a nerve had been damaged during her surgery,” Amanda said. “It essentially meant the top part of her heart and the bottom part of her heart weren’t talking to one another and her little heart couldn’t find its rhythm again. So, a week after that surgery, she got a permanent pacemaker. Her heart issues also caused a slew of feeding issues, which led to her needing a g-tube. We were told she could have that g-tube for years.”

In what was great news, she was able to get it removed right before her first birthday.

”She continues to surprise us, her parents, and all her doctors,” Amanda said. “She still has a couple parts of her heart we’re keeping an eye on as she grows. And, she’ll have to have her pacemaker replaced every 10 years or so, as the battery runs out.”

Her family’s story is why Amanda cares so much about making sure we all know about CHDs, and take time in February to care about our littlest of warriors born battling.

”We have been taken care of at Levine Children’s Hospital and through the Greg & Kara Olsen HEARTest Yard Foundation better than I could’ve ever imagined,” she said. “Because we’ve gotten such good care, I want to make sure others receive the same.”

This past weekend, Amanda hosted (and created!) an event she called “Burn for Beats.” She works at Burn Boot Camp in Belmont, N.C., and often takes her daughter with her to work. She hosted a special kids camp, with workouts just for kids and kids of all ability levels, and ended up raising over $1,000.

Another family who attends there understands CHDs well and together they wanted to do something to celebrate kids, healthy hearts, and raise money for The HEARTest Yard.

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Preparing for a baby’s arrival is a busy time for all parents, but Haley and K.T. Carter of Knoxville, Tenn., had much more to consider than most new parents. During the 20th week of her pregnancy, Haley learned that their baby had a congenital heart defect called a double outlet right ventricle (DORV). With DORV, the main artery and the lung artery do not connect to the usual areas in the heart and treating the condition usually requires a series of surgeries within the baby’s first few years of life. Suddenly Haley and K.T. had another big thing to prepare for: They needed a hospital with an excellent reputation in pediatric cardiac care.

Their goal was to find the right hospital, even if it wasn’t the closest. They visited hospitals around the southeast, but one stood out amongst the rest. 

“Finding a hospital was stressful. There are all these statistics and all kinds of information,” Haley says. “But when we went to Levine Children’s Hospital, we just got a really good feeling. Everybody there was just wonderful and supportive and knowledgeable. They really cared.”

Impressed by the staff who arranged tours and meetings with surgeons for Haley and K.T., they knew they had found the right hospital to care for their baby who would affectionally be named Ace. 

Ace’s First Surgery

When Ace was four months old, Haley and K.T. recognized signs of heart failure: Ace was getting out of breath frequently and sweating more than usual. They knew this meant it was nearing the time for Ace to get his first heart surgery. They brought him to Levine Children’s Hospital where testing showed his lungs were getting three times the flow of blood than they should, furthering his heart failure symptoms. They stayed at the hospital with Ace for two weeks until he was ready for a Damus-Kaye-Stansel (DKS) procedure to control blood flow.

Although the DKS went well, Ace’s recovery was difficult. His blood pressure bottomed out after surgery and he needed to go on a heart/lung bypass machine – called ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation – to keep his organs functioning.

“His heart wasn’t pulsing on its own. His lungs weren’t breathing on their own,” Haley says. “They saved his life.”

Ace spent two months in the hospital, including time in intensive care. Slowly, Ace grew stronger. Doctors were able to take him off the ventilator, then soon after, they started weaning him from medications. During that time, Haley and K.T. developed close bonds with the medical team. 

“Parents of babies with congenital heart defects can have so much going on, so many medical staff around, so much of the usual baby-ness taken away,” says Stirling McDavid, a pediatric cardiology nurse practitioner at Levine Children’s Hospital who cared for Ace. “So it’s important to me to congratulate parents on their newborn, to talk about how beautiful their baby is, to learn the family’s names. I’ve had the true pleasure of getting to know Haley and K.T. well.”

A Best Children’s Hospital that is ‘there for you as your child grows’

In 2022, U.S. News & World Report named Levine Children’s Hospital as a Best Children’s Hospital for Cardiology & Heart Surgery for the 11th year in a row. Here, top specialists care for children with congenital heart defects using the latest treatment and techniques. But the care extends beyond the hospital walls, too. The HEARTest Yard supports families who have babies with complex congenital heart disease with in-home nursing care and healthcare support. This comprehensive approach supports babies and their families with both high-tech and big-hearted care, inside of the hospital and at home.

That care extends past the baby’s initial surgeries. The HEARTest Yard recently began a cardiac neurodevelopmental program that supports these children long term. If a child with a congenital heart defect needs care for a learning disability or for difficulty walking, for example, this program will continue to support the child with the care they need, as they need it.

“We do more than provide care while the baby is in the hospital. We make sure that families feel that we are with them even after they’re home and when their child goes to school,” McDavid says. “I’m so proud of that. I feel so good telling families that we’re not just with you now, but we’re going to be there with you as your child grows.”

A Regional Center for Congenital Heart Defect Care

Because of this level of care, many out-of-town families who have babies with congenital heart defects travel to Levine Children’s Hospital. Sometimes, the families are from towns and cities around North Carolina. And some, like Haley and K.T., travel from out of state. Levine Children’s Hospital works to streamline care for out-of-town patients as much as possible. The hospital coordinates with subspecialists and primary care doctors in the patient’s hometown to minimize a family’s travel. When a child needs specialty care at Levine Children’s Hospital, the staff supports the family during their stay.

“As healthcare professionals, we want patients to know that here they are going to be so loved – not just the baby, but the whole family. We’re thinking about the siblings at home, the bills to pay, the school that’s missed, the housing that’s needed. How can we help lift this burden?” says McDavid. “We know that there are a lot of things that will be taken away because of hospital stays or because of the disease itself. But our goal is that families feel like they are also being poured into.”

A Hopeful Future Ahead

Now, Ace is back home, and he’s continuing his appointments that will determine the timing of his second surgery. It’s been a challenging time, but Haley and K.T. remain  centered in each moment of enjoying time together as a family, wherever they are.

“We’re grateful to spend time with Ace, whether we’re in the hospital or outside of the hospital. Throughout this process, it’s been hard to stay patient. But it’s necessary to stay patient, to stay positive, and to do the best you can,” Haley says. “We’re so lucky to have Ace. He’s our miracle baby. He’s made it through a lot.”

Learn how The HEARTest Yard, a partnership between the Greg Olsen Foundation and Atrium Health Foundation, supports children with congenital heart disease and their families as they make the transition from hospital to home.

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Greg Olsen is one of the most beloved former members of the Carolina Panthers and still makes his home here in Charlotte. Click here to watch an exclusive interview with WBTV!

The Greg Olsen Foundation and the HEARTest Yard are proud to be a part of Harris Teeter’s Health Partner Round Up Campaign!

From January 25th until April 4th, customers in all NC and SC stores will be able to “Round Up” their total at checkout as a donation to Harris Teeter’s Health charity partners – including the HEARTest Yard!

So, the next time you’re grocery shopping, we invite you to please join us in “Rounding Up” at the register to help heart families!

****SOLD OUT​******

Fox Sports Analyst & Carolina Panthers legend, Greg Olsen is hosting his upcoming charity event at Steak 48 to support the HEARTest Yard initiative.

The HEARTest Yard “UnGala” will take place 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, February 27 at Charlotte’s hottest restaurant, Steak 48. The celebrity-studded guest list will look forward to a cocktail reception and full three-course meal prepared by Steak 48, plus fine wine, and silent auction.

100% of donations from the event will go to The HEARTest Yard program, a part of the Receptions for Research 501(c)(3), which supports families of children with congenital heart disease like Olsen’s son T.J. treated at Levine Children’s Hospital here in Charlotte. For more information on sponsorships, email Molly Ansbro at mansbro@r4r.org.

Last year’s inaugural event raised $223,461 and featured a guest list including: Christian McCaffrey, Thomas Davis, Jeff Gordon, Luke Kuechly, Jonathan & Natalie Stewart, J.J. Jansen, Gene Woods, Jose Armario and Dovy Klarberg of Diamonds Direct. Media inquiries can contact nikki@yellowduckmarketing.com or julianne@yellowduckmarketing.com.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QC Life) – Greg Olsen, beloved former Carolina Panthers tight end and now sports commentator, still makes his home here in Charlotte.

Olsen and his wife Kara will host the HEARTest Yard Ungala at Steak 48 on Feb. 27.

WBTV and QC Life’s Kristen Miranda sat down with Olsen to talk about the bigger impact of the gala and his foundation’s mission.

Every dollar raised that night will benefit the work Olsen’s foundation does for families of children with congenital heart disease, just like their son TJ, who underwent a heart transplant in 2021.

Olsen said his son recently asked to meet his heart donor and they are waiting to hear back.

Last year, Christian McCaffrey, Thomas Davis, Jeff Gordon, Luke Kuechly, Jonathan & Natalie Stewart were all there.

The Party: Pro athletes, musicians, and other celebrities arrived at the Kiawah Island Club’s River Course for the first annual golf tournament for HEARTest Yard, a Charlotte based health-care support program created by former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and his wife, Kara, for families of babies born with congenital heart disease. On Sunday night, guests mingled at the clubhouse before a live auction and concert featuring Hootie & the Blowfish’s Mark Bryan and Ed Roland of Collective Soul. On Monday, more celebs—including former NBA player Muggsy Bogues and NFL broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt—teed off on the picturesque River Course. The event raised more than $300,000, helping HEARTest Yard expand to the Lowcountry and provide support for families with patients treated at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.

Highlight: Mark Bryan starting off Sunday night’s concert with a $5,000 donation

Overheard: “We allow families to bring home their children who are healthy enough to leave the hospital, but still need some extra hands and help.” —Greg Olsen

Beneficiary: HEARTest Yard program at MUSC’s Children’s Health Pediatric & Congenital Heart Center

Once again in 2022, Greg Olsen and his family went to the Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital to visit with patients and distribute his beanie. This year’s version will be available for purchase at the team store at Sunday’s game with proceeds going to benefit the hospital and their important work.

Olsen helped raise money for his foundation for childhood heart medical funding by hosting a workout event at the Atrium Health Dome.

Click here to see more images from Panthers.com.

Olsen helped raise money for his foundation for childhood heart medical funding by hosting a workout event at the Atrium Health Dome.