JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Kari's Heart Foundation was founded by Jennifer and Jeff Schoondyke, after the loss of their daughter Kari, to congenital heart disease.
11 Connects recently sat down with this extraordinary couple, and discovered why this foundation is so important to our region, and how you can help with their mission…
Kari Schoondyke was born in August of 2008, with congenital heart disease, she faced her first heart surgery while just nine days old.
In April 2009, this smiling, happy 7 month old passed away, leaving her family grieving, but ready to make sure that her young life left a legacy of hope.
While in the hospital with Kari, the Schoondykes saw other families in their situation. Those families were sometimes in need of financial, informational, or just emotional help. Recognizing that need, is what gave life to Kari’s Heart Foundation.
"There's not much worse than losing your child and if you can just make it a little easier, and have them focus on their baby, and their kids and not have to worry about these side things that's really what its all about," says father Jeff Schoondyke.
Beyond money and other information needed by families with sick children, Kari’s Heart Foundation provides those families with "Kari-ng bags" several "small" items, that are a "big" help, for those long stays in the hospital.
"We give them a camera, I feel like this is so important, because some of these children they don't go home and they want pictures, because pictures mean everything when you lose a child,” Kari’s mother, Jennifer, says.
Accomplishing the mission of Kari’s Heart Foundation doesn't come without some cost. That's where you can help, by taking part in the first annual "Tri-Cities Got Talent" competition.
"People will say: ‘Oh I'm not that great, I don't think I can win’,” Jennifer says. “That's okay, you can still support the foundation, you can bring out all of your friends, and they can watch you perform, and you can make a difference.”
Kari Schoondyke, one small child, that can inspire all of us, to make a difference for our neighbors in need.
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