Brave Heart

The Brave Heart Fund (BHF) was established at the Children's Heart Center, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) in November 2003. The BHF provides financial assistance to needy children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), helping cover their medical and surgical expenses. CHD is the most common birth defect and the leading cause of death in the first year of life. 1 in 100 babies are born with heart disease worldwide and this affects about 700 newborn babies in Lebanon each year, the majority of which cannot afford the appropriate treatment that will allow them to lead a normal and healthy life. In almost 10 years, the BHF has helped save the lives of over 1800 children in need, the youngest just one day old.In addition to covering the costs of surgeries that range from $6,000 for a Catheterization Procedure (balloon) to $25,000 for an Open-Heart surgery, the Brave Heart Fund increases public awareness of this devastating disease by launching awareness campaigns in Lebanon in association with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. This has underlined the necessity for early detection and the fact that CHD can affect any child regardless of gender, race or socio-economic background.