12 babies a week are born in New Zealand with a congenital heart defect (CHD) – that’s one in every 100 births. We have a network of trained support workers who feel passionate about our heart kids, teens, adults and their families. Caring for a child with CHD means regular trips to the National Children’s hospital in Auckland for procedures, tests and surgeries. It can mean leaving the rest of the family behind, often not knowing for how long. It can mean a barrage of unfamiliar medical terms. It can mean a lot of waiting and uncertainty whilst a child is in the operating theatre. It can also mean separation, isolation, financial hardship, stress, loneliness and worrying about what the future might bring. We help families navigate these issues by offering support at hospital as well as in the community.