Who We Support
Perinatal Behavioral Health Specialist
Taking Care Of Moms and Dads
No one knows how stressful and anxiety-provoking a child’s stay in the Heart Center can be more than Jared and Adrianne Neville. That’s why they decided to provide funding to bring Washington University’s Perinatal Behavioral Health Service (PBHS) program to the Heart Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
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The Neville’s donation, aided by everyone who has supported Eden’s Army, is helping to fund a part-time PBHS specialist for Heart Center families. This specialist is providing evidence-based and trauma- informed screening and intervention for women and their partners showing signs of postpartum anxiety and depression.
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“We feel honored to play a role in helping parents of very sick children get through difficult times,” Adrianne says. “Having someone there to listen and guide them toward the resources necessary to cope and be present for their child will make all the difference in the world.”
Beads Of Courage
Helping Children Tell Their Unique Story
One of our largest efforts is the Beads of Courage program for the Heart Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital (SLCH). ​The program is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen children and families coping with serious illness. Children tell their story using colorful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones they have achieved along their unique treatment path. As the SLCH staff will tell you, Beads of Courage is amazing. Each CICU patient receives a basket containing the beads they have earned since the beginning of their journey in the heart center. With the help of parents, patients string their beads every week. This effort is a visual reminder of where they have come from, how strong they have been, and how they are capable of tackling whatever comes their way.
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At the launch event, Eden's family felt the power of the program when SLCH staff presented them with a string of beads Edy earned during her journey. Eden's mother Adrianne shared, "We were moved to tears for two reasons. First, I love having something that is just hers, because we don't have many things. Secondly, I was completely devastated at how heavy and long her string ended up being. She went through so much in 25 days, more than any child should have to go through in a lifetime and I was so terribly sad that it was the only life she got to live. Then I looked around the room at our families, the staff, the patients and their families and I realized that she is still living a life. Not the one we prayed for, but a life making things better for others. Not many people will be able to say that, but sweet Edy can." We are so proud that Eden's Army is forever linked to this program. Learn more about how you can support Eden's legacy.
Bringing Augmented Reality to the Electrophysiology Laboratory
Helping Surgeons More Precisely Treat Pediatric Heart Patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Eden's Army works in collaboration with several other foundations and donors to help St. Louis Children's Hospital bring innovative technologies to improve the lives of patients needing heart surgery. One of our remarkable physician-scientists, Jennifer N. Avari Silva, has created a 3D holographic image device which will help surgeons more precisely treat pediatric heart patients at Children’s and across the globe. This BBC article gives an in-depth look at the amazing device and how it works! We take great pride in Supporting the ingenuity of our cardiac staff.
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To view the entire article on the BBC click here.