Music for Heart aimed at saving lives

STEPHANIE BERTHOLDO/Acorn Newspapers HEARTFELT- Delaney Small, 5, is the inspiration for her mother Brenda's efforts to launch the Delany Kate Heart Fund, a charity dedicated to helping disadvantaged children receive medical treatment for congenital heart disease. Delany was diagnosed with a congenital heart disorder when she was one week old. Many children in impoverished countries with heart conditions die without surgery or proper follow-up procedures. Delaney Small might have died during her first week of life had it not been for a doctor's speedy diagnosis of a congenital heart disorder and cuttingedge medical technology that allowed a surgeon to repair her ailing, tiny heart.

Brenda and Craig Small of Agoura Hills have counted their blessings every day since their daughter's life was saved. Their gratitude grew into a determination to help other children with such heart disorders in economically disadvantaged countries where poverty and lack of medical treatment can amount to a death sentence.

A benefit concert to raise funds for the Delaney Kate Heart Fund is scheduled for Sun., April 22 at The Canyon club in Agoura Hills.

The fund contributes money for children who need heart operations in impoverished countries. The fund also helps pay for medical training of doctors in their homeland, so the future medical needs of children with congenital heart disease can be performed by doctors on their own turf.

The Music for Heart event will feature silent and live auctions, dinner, live entertainment and celebrity guests. A dinner with Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac fame will be among the silent auction items available. A limited edition case of Fleetwood's wines with each bottle and case signed by the drummer will also be auctioned.

Chad Everett, an actor and the national spokesperson for Gift of Life International, will present the keynote address at the event. Actor Don Stark ("Bob" on "That '70s Show") will serve as master of ceremonies for the evening.

Special guests include Chris Harrison, host of ABC's "The Bachelor" and HGTV's "Designer's Challenge," Ilona Europa, a singer/songwriter and musical director and vocal coach at Oak Woods Vocal Academy in Westlake Village, and the Oak Woods Vocal Academy Singers.

The first 100 women to arrive at the event will have the opportunity to have their photograph taken with celebrity guests. They will also each receive a red rose, Brenda Small said.

A special VIP reception is also scheduled. VIP guests will be treated to a private jazz performance by singer Julie Newsome. The band Knight Fever will perform later in the evening.

The Smalls hope to raise $50,000 at the inaugural Music for Heart event, which is being hosted by the Agoura Hills/Oak Park Rotary Club and Sabre Entertainment. "We hope to do this every year," Small said.

Auction items include jewelry, vintage watches, gift baskets and certificates for vacations and restaurants. The money will be used for the Gift of Life International medical training mission in El Salvador. "Fifteen to 20 kids will receive heart surgery to get a second chance at life," Small said.

Inspirational tale

Everett told the story of Raimon Made, a 9yearold Dominican Republic boy who was given another chance after being brought to the United States to undergo heart surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Raimon was the 10th child to benefit from the Music for Heart organization.

Everett quells the fears of children undergoing heart surgery by coming in to surgery with them. "I put my face about 10 inches from Raimon before he was put under with anesthesia," Everett said. "When he came to, I had my face in the same position. It's as if he blinked- he has no fear of the anesthesiologist."

Gift of Life International recently celebrated helping its 10,000th child with cardiac problems, Everett said.

He commended the Smalls' dedication to helping children with congenital heart disease, and said he was particularly impressed with how the entire Small family becomes involved with the children who are brought over from other countries. Delaney, who was only 4 years old at the time of Raimon's surgery, visited the boy in the hospital and helped calm him by showing him her tiny scar from heart surgery when she was just a week old.

"One thing we can all do for our children is to teach them early on the joy of giving," Everett said.

Small and Everett pointed out that both Music for Heart and Gift of Life International are committed to equipping hospitals in impoverished countries and training doctors by rotating surgical teams every few months for a couple of years until staff doctors have completed their residency and know how to perform heart surgery on young patients.

"Within two to three years doctors become completely self sufficient," Small said.

Believing in miracles

Last week, a 3-year-old girl from El Salvador who suffers from a severe form of congenital heart disease was brought to the United States for surgery. Small said the child's condition is so dire she was turned down by two U.S. hospitals, but the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has accepted the challenge of saving the child. "We have to try," Small said.

"I see miracles all the time," Everett said. "I'm so blessed."

As for Delaney, the frecklefaced 5-year-old is now off all medication and "doing amazingly well," according to her mother.

Tickets are $75 for adults and $50 for children 16 years old and under. Limited VIP tickets are priced at $100. Sponsorships from $100 to $5,000 are still being accepted. To order tickets, call (818) 625-7402 or visit the website www.musicforheart.org or www.canyonclub.net.