Friday, Oct. 17, 2008

Friends 4 Heart Tournament on Nov. 11

By Adrian McCandless

Staff Writer

Bridlewood Elementary School third-grader Jake Price loves to swim and play football, baseball and golf, but when he was born his future was uncertain.

Jake’s parents discovered that their son was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect two days after he was born.

"We were getting ready to go home from the hospital and the pediatrician discovered a heart murmur," Scott Price said. "Before you know it, they were scheduling heart surgery."

According to the Web site, congenitalheartdefects.com: "According to the March of Dimes, congenital heart defects are the No. 1 birth defect. In the U.S, alone, over 25,000 babies are born each year with a congenital heart defect. That translates to 1 out of every 115 to 150 births."

Tracy Price described the event as a "whirl wind."

"I think as a first-time mom, you don’t really know what to expect," she said.

A week after Jake was born, the Prices were finally able to take their bundle of joy home, and nine years later – Jake is a happy and healthy boy.

"We are very fortunate with the defects that he has – I wouldn’t say they are minor – but they aren’t holding him back," she said.

The Prices also said they regularly take Jake to see a cardiologist every six months for a check up to monitor his heart.

To honor and celebrate Jake’s life, the Prices founded the Friends 4 Heart nonprofit organization last spring to raise funds benefiting the research, treatment and support of children with congenital heart defects.

The family decided to start a charity golf tournament to raise funds for the cause, and it has already been a major success. Tournament player spots are already filled, but sponsorships are still available.

The charity golf tournament benefiting Medical City Children’s Hospital Congenital Heart Program will be held on Nov. 11 at the Bridlewood Golf Course in Flower Mound.

The community has reached out to support the Friends 4 Heart organization. Throughout the month of October, stores in Parker Square have been selling hearts for $1 with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Friends 4 Heart organization.

On Wednesday, participating Parker Square stores will donate a percentage of proceeds made that day to the charity. Participating stores will be decorated for identification purposes.

For more information about Friends 4 Heart and sponsorship opportunities for the charity golf tournament, or to donate to the cause, visit www.Friends4Heart.org.