The third annual Hearts of Promise Heart Walk was recently held in Prattville, Alabama.  The mission of Hearts of Promise is to increase awareness of congenital heart defects and to raise funds for research.  In spite of the rainy weather, over 100 people gathered at Pratt Park to bring donations, walk their miles, and enjoy the food and fellowship. 

Holly Turner (2nd from left) is pictured with friends who came out to support her in the Hearts of Promise Heart Walk.

Tracy and Candy Turner and Candy’s parents, Wayne and Carolyn Saunders, are the spearheads for this effort.  The Turners’ daughter was born on the morning of May 28, 2002, and though she appeared to be perfectly healthy, they soon found out that she had a serious congenital heart defect.  The Turners were informed that Holly had “very little chance” of being a candidate for the procedure that she needed.  Not willing to accept this for an answer, Holly’s family sent out prayer requests asking people to pray for a miracle for their little girl.  Literally thousands of people all over the world were praying for Holly’s miracle.

God gave Holly her miracle through the trained hands of Dr. John Mayer at Children’s Hospital Boston.  In doing the Rastelli procedure, Dr. Mayer placed a conduit (donor valve and artery) from Holly’s right ventricle to her lungs.  Holly, who has undergone two open-heart surgeries, is now a lively and precious little redhead who is full of life.

Precious children who have received life-saving treatment at Children's Hospital Boston

Holly’s family founded Hearts of Promise in April of 2003 to raise funds for research Dr. Mayer is currently conducting at Children’s Hospital Boston.  Through his research, Mayer hopes to grow a valve from a child’s own tissue, thus eliminating the need for multiple heart surgeries for thousands of children.  Since the valve would come from a child’s own tissue, there would be no rejection issues and the valve would grow as the child’s heart grows.

One in nearly every 100 newborns is born with a heart defect.  Many precious children with congenital heart defects live in our area, and many have received treatment at Children’s Hospital Boston.  Hearts of Promise is a non-profit organization, and all proceeds go directly to this research.

Local Boy Scout Isaac Stackhouse, Troop 19 Millbrook, believes in Hearts of Promise because of a congenital heart defect of his own that caused him to have a heart attack at the age of 13.  Isaac, who had an undiagnosed heart defect, was a competitive swimmer when he suffered his heart attack.  After receiving life-saving surgery at Children’s Hospital Boston, Isaac has worked his way back into athletics where he continued to swim and play on the varsity football and basketball teams for Autauga Academy.  He is currently conditioning for his opportunity in collegiate sports at the University of Kentucky.

Eagle Scout Isaac Stackhouse awards grant money to Hearts Of Promise's Holly Turner and mom, Candy (Saunders) Turner.

Isaac received his Eagle Scout award this past August and was in the Eagle Scout Class of 2007.  Each year the Eagle Scouts have the opportunity to apply for a grant that awards the charity of their choice to receive a $1000 donation.  Isaac immediately knew that he had to try for the award to be given to Hearts of Promise.  After writing a heart felt essay, he was selected and with much excitement he delivered that check at the Hearts of Promise heart walk.

Hearts of Promise raised over $15,000 at the walk and has contributed $155,000 to date to Children’s Hospital Boston.  They have also sold over 4,000 copies of their cookbook, Heart to Heart Recipes, and continue to receive rave reviews.  If you would like to support Hearts of Promise or if you would like more information about the organization, you may contact Tracy and Candy Turner at P.O. Box 681070, Prattville, AL 36068 or Wayne and Carolyn Saunders at 847 Candy Lane, Chipley.  You may also visit the website at www.heartsofpromise.org.