Our Personal Fundraising Page

Thank you for visiting our fundraising page! We are participating in the Congenital Heart Walk to support the mission of The Children's Heart Foundation: to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects by funding the most promising research.

Why this?  Our grandson AJ (Alexander John Pyne) was born with a hypoplastic right heart (under-developed right ventricle) and tricuspid atresia.  He underwent his first open heart surgery in February of 2022 at 5 months of age.  Now 20 months old he will need another open heart procedure in the next 6 months or so.

His devoted parents (Katie and Doug) and hovering sisters (Charlotte, Isabella and Madison) advocate for and shower AJ with love and dedication.  He is a joy. 

He has received extraordinary care by Dr. Donna Better (pediatric cardiology at NYU LI) and Dr. Emil Bacha (pediatric heart surgeon) and his team at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. As extraordinary as this care has been there remains a deep need to fund life-saving research.

Please give what you can to help the many children living with Congenital Heart Disease.

AJ on the night of his surgery
AJ on the night of his surgery

With this photo AJ can look back at the extraordinary care he received. Monitors, an arterial line, and five or more medications going in by IV. This the night of his first open heart surgery, with almost 2 hours on a heart lung machine.

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AJ at discharge, Mother and Child
AJ at discharge, Mother and Child

He suffered the first few days. But here he is, in relaxed pose, 7 days after his surgery, discharged from Columbia Presbyterian Children’s Hospital.

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My Badges

  • Heart Aware
    Heart Aware

    Awarded when Anyone reaches $75.00 in donations

    Awarded 04/29/2023

  • Heart Friend
    Heart Friend

    Awarded when Anyone reaches $150.00 in donations

    Awarded 04/29/2023

  • Heart Hero
    Heart Hero

    Awarded when Anyone reaches $500.00 in donations

    Awarded 04/29/2023

  • First Donation
    First Donation

    Awarded when Anyone receives 1 or more donations

    Awarded 04/29/2023

  • Heart Champion
    Heart Champion

    Awarded when Anyone reaches $2,500.00 in donations

    Awarded 05/01/2023

  • Heart Warrior
    Heart Warrior

    Awarded when Anyone reaches $1,000.00 in donations

    Awarded 05/01/2023

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$5,588.00

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$10,000.00

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My Supporters

  • Alexandra Lachmann To AJ the heart warrior! May 2023 $103.00
  • Joseph De Sena May 2023 $500.00
  • Jeff Casey From Jeff & Leah May 2023 $250.00
  • Thomas Zaldivar May 2023 $100.00
  • James and Justine Romanelli April 2023 $2,060.00
  • James and Justine Romanelli April 2023 $2,060.00
  • James and Justine Romanelli For the love and joy that AJ brings us all; for the love and devotion of his sisters, Charlotte, Isabella and Madison; and for the relentless advocacy and love of his parents, Katie and Doug. Love, Justine and Jim April 2023 $2,060.00
  • James and Justine Romanelli April 2023 $515.00
  • Joseph De Sena May 2023 $500.00
  • Jeff Casey From Jeff & Leah May 2023 $250.00

My Teammates

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