• The Global Crisis.

    With approximately 1.3 million children born each year having a heart defect and knowing that 93% do not have access to cardiac care, our goal is to make this lifesaving care available to children everywhere.

    View a special message here

  • Our Legacy Programs.

    Uganda and El Salvador

    Legacy Programs are Core Programs which have succeeded and now have support from the local hospital and government, have a fully trained team and a dedicated facility with state-of-the-art equipment solely for program use.

    View our Legacy Program video here

  • Our Core Programs.

    Jamaica and Romania

    In 2009, the creation of Core Programs maximized our capacity to treat more children each year by developing sustainable pediatric cardiac programs and centers of excellence in select emerging countries.

    View our Core Program video here

  • Rotary and Our Global Impact.

    Gift of Life is a Rotarian-based non-profit organization whose initiatives are supported by 318 Rotary Clubs and 70 Rotary Districts around the world. Rotary Global Grants are a major funding source and help to maximize our impact in providing care to children with heart disease throughout the world.

    View our Rotary Partners and impact here

  • Our 36,000th Heart Healed.

    In October 2019, Abel from Bolivia was the 36,000th child to have his heart healed through our global network of caring. Exactly 44 years earlier, the first-ever GOL recipient from Uganda had her heart healed.

    Learn about our 36,000th child here
45 Years Service
39,435 Children Treated
80 Countries Reached
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Our MissionHealing Little Hearts Around the World

Our mission is to provide lifesaving cardiac treatment to children in need from developing countries regardless of gender, creed, or national origin. Our goal is to develop sustainable pediatric cardiac programs by implementing screening, surgical and training missions which are supported by autonomous Gift of Life programs, Rotary Global Grants and generous donors from around the world.

 

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News. Updates on Hearts Being Healed Around the World

Read the latest news from Gift of Life Affiliated Programs around the world regarding their impact as they work to heal more little hearts in their region.

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Order Your Gift of Life Book Today

The first-ever Gift of Life Book has been published and is now available for purchase. Don’t miss your chance to own a copy of this one-of-a-kind Limited Edition book – Read first hand, emotionally moving stories from the actual volunteers, patients and their family members, about how the Gift of Life has forever changed their lives. 

Click here to order your copy today. Each book is $30 ($25 plus $5 shipping) and 100% of proceeds will help us heal the heart of the next child in need. 

 

Story of the Month

While the world experiences the global pandemic of Covid-19, our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus over the past several weeks and months. At the same time, our hearts are heavy thinking of the countless numbers of children and parents who have no access to pediatric cardiac care and are waiting for the day when we are once again to mobilize our healthcare volunteer teams and answer their prayers. We are grateful to all our healthcare volunteers for their dedication, love and support over the years and for the mentorship they have provided to local healthcare professionals in our programs around the world.

During the global pandemic, the strength of our Gift of Life Global Network of Caring has become even more apparent. Healthcare professionals in various countries have stepped forward during quarantines to apply the skills they have learned through training and mentorship to heal the hearts of children who cannot wait. Gift of Life programs and Rotarians have supported these efforts by providing PPE to keep them safe as well as essential supplies and medications to complete surgeries. While the global pandemic of Covid-19 continues, the global crisis of Congenital Heart Disease is magnified. Together we remain strong and focused on our mission to heal little hearts around the world. Please enjoy this video celebrating the strength of our global network as we continue to lead with our hearts and provide care to those in need. 

Humanized Care for Medical Staff, Families and Children

Compassionate Patient and Family-Centered Care

Caring for children in a medical setting is best practiced with the collaboration of all members of the team, including families, doctors, nurses, occupational, respiratory and physical therapist, and other medical staff. For all, it is the provision of sensitive and empathic child and family services. These can create safety and comfort as children are separated from families, encounter medical procedures, and stay in strange environments.

In this collaborative style of treatment, it is equally important that staff are also helped to develop self-care methods. This training enables them to understand and relieve the emotional stresses that arise for them in their settings, and to more effectively identify and support some of the emotional and social needs of the families and children in their care. Mindfulness, Meditation, Guided Visualization for stress reduction, Coherent Breathing, and music are some of the strategies introduced and practiced.

For additional information, please watch this video.

Impact of Your Donation

$50

Could provide regular exams following surgery

$100

Could provide medicines needed to ensure a healthy recovery

$250

Could provide 6 months of nutritional assistance prior to surgery

$500

Could provide one year of nutritional assistance following surgery