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# Heartfelt Help Foundation

Helping financially challenged heart transplant recipients through and after their recovery

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Heartfelt Hikes](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/heartfelt-hikes/)
- [Drake’s Estero](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/heartfelt-hikes/drakes-estero/) - #post_excerptThis magical spot is full of what makes the Northern California coast so amazing, from wild terrain, to gorgeous views of the Pacific and its wildlife.
- [Islands in the Sky](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/heartfelt-hikes/islands-in-the-sky/) - #post_excerptLike many great adventures, this trip did not start out the way we planned…
- [Agate Beach - Heartfelt Hike #2!](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/heartfelt-hikes/agate-beach-heartfelt-hike-2/) - #post_excerptWhile this isn’t a super challenging hike, if you’re in the Bay Area, you really need to visit Agate Beach.
- [Beaches of the North Sonoma Coast](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/heartfelt-hikes/beaches-of-the-north-sonoma-coast/) - #post_excerptToday’s adventure takes us to three absolutely gorgeous north coast destinations.
- [Heartfelt Hike along Limantour Beach](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/heartfelt-hikes/heartfelt-hike-along-limantour-beach/) - #post_excerptMiles of scenic beach, a little climbing, tide pools and the best views around. Here, you can really find it all.
- [First Hike! Tolay Lake Regional Park (Petaluma)](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/heartfelt-hikes/first-hike-tolay-lake-regional-park-petaluma/) - #post_excerptBrief description of one of my favorite local hikes, Tolay.
- [What is Heartfelt Hikes?](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/heartfelt-hikes/what-is-heartfelt-hikes/) - #post_excerptWelcome to Heartfelt Hikes! A one-stop shop for trail reviews, all from the perspective of a transplant recipient

## Pages

- [Home](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/) - #post_contentHeartfelt Help Foundation is a nonprofit seeking to assist organ transplant recipients afford post-transplant housing
- [Our Mission](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/our-mission/) - Some people can’t afford the costs that accompany a transplant. The mission of Heartfelt Help Foundation (HHF) is to help financially challenged heart transplant recipients in Northern California pay transplant related expenses not covered by insurance. We also mentor heart transplant patients to help them maximize the gift of life they received and educate the
- [Contact Us](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/contact-us/) - Are you interested in learning more about Heartfelt Help Foundation and how you can volunteer to help heart transplant patients? Would you like to financially support our programs and want more information about how we use contributions? Are you a heart transplant candidate or recipient at a San Francisco Bay Area hospital who
- [Resources](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/resources/)
- [Donate](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/donate/) - Give by Venmo We are funded entirely by grants and donations HHF and the adult and pediatric patients who we support greatly appreciate any and every contribution! Please note that our system allows automated recurring donations which are especially helpful because patients in distress come to us
- [Events](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/events/) - Scheduled Events and Signup Links
- [Awards](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/awards/) - 2024 Bounce Back, Give Back Award Denise Redeker, Founder & Executive Director of Heartfelt Help Foundation, was selected by the nationally renowned Chris Klug Foundation for its 2024 Bounce Back, Give Back award. Check out Denise’s nomination in the CKF website to see why. Chris Klug, an Olympic medalist snowboarder, liver transplant recipient, and first
- [Podcasts](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcasts/) - PTSD is real and weird If you had asked me even a few months ago if I carried any PTSD with me from my heart transplant surgery, I’d probably have responded with… Other Press
- [Our Team](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/our-team/)
- [Slide Anything Popup Preview](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/slide-anything-popup-preview/)
- [Thank You](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/thank-you/) - Your message has been successfully sent. We will contact you soon!
- [Testimonials](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/)
- [Sample Page](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/sample-page/) - This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I'm a bike messenger

## Testimonials

- [Transplant Team Social Workers](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/a-transplant-team-social-worker/) - "As a social worker, I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support of Denise and the Heartfelt Help Foundation. Time and time again, they have gone above and beyond to ensure our heart transplant patients receive the financial, transportation, and housing assistance they so desperately need. Their compassion and commitment are unmatched, and they consistently
- [Kevin Found Insurance Coverage for $10,000 of His Expenses](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/kevin-found-insurance-coverage-worth-thousands-of-dollars-to-him/) - After Kevin received a heart transplant, his doctors required him to live near the hospital for several weeks until they determined him stable enough to return home. The hotel expense would total thousands of dollars, which he and his wife couldn't afford, so they applied to Heartfelt Help Foundation's lodging program for assistance. HHF was
- [E’s Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/es-loving-family/) - "We want to express our deepest gratitude to Heartfelt Help Foundation for the incredible support you provided our family during the most difficult time of our lives. After losing our son while he was waiting for a heart transplant, we were overwhelmed with grief and struggling to keep up with our daily responsibilities. Your generous
- [The Casteneda Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/the-casteneda-family/) - ... "This is where Denise from Heartfelt Help stepped in. Because I had been unable to work for months due to being hospitalized, her program helped cover the rent for the apartment. This support was truly a blessing during such a difficult time, allowing me to focus fully on healing. It also gave me peace
- [The Esparza Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/grateful-for-support-from-axels-helping-hand-program/) - The Esparza's have seven minor-age children, one who received a heart transplant, and one modest income. HHF helped them pay for M's post-transplant temporary recovery lodging a year ago. Now that he's returned home, money remains tight, and they were the first beneficiary of our new Axel's Helping Hand program. "I wanted to take the
- [The Leano Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/the-leano-family/) - "Our dad’s social worker recommended we connect with Denise and the Heartfelt Help Foundation for possible assistance with post-surgery costs. To our amazement, the Heartfelt Help Foundation has not only provided financial relief, but they provided emotional support as well. Denise has provided our family comfort and reassurance during one of the most difficult times
- [The Martinez Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/the-martinez-family/) - "Facing the uncertainty of medical outcomes can be incredibly daunting. As the days spent waiting in the hospital stretch on, concerns about accommodation and financial matters can add to the stress. It's important to stay strong for a loved one who is receiving a second chance at life with a new heart and liver. During
- [The S&H Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/the-sh-family/) - Teenage HH has medical conditions so complicated that she and her mother had to move permanently across the country to Northern California so that a San Francisco Bay Area hospital could evaluate and eventually treat her. She has insurance for post-transplant temporary recovery lodging near the hospital but until her mother found Heartfelt Help Foundation,
- [Precious Axel, until we meet again . . .](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/precious-axle-until-we-meet-again/) - "While Axel's journey is over, we hope that by sharing our story, we can raise awareness about the immense financial burden families endure when a child is facing a life-threatening condition. The costs are often unseen and unsung, but they are real, and they matter." Read Axel's story here, as told by his mother Ly.
- [The Williams Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/the-williams-family/) - Armaneigh was diagnosed at 9 months old with dilated cardiomyopathy and spent the next 341 days in the hospital, ultimately receiving a new heart in mid-2023. Soon after discharge to medically required temporary recovery lodging, her mother Tianna and their hospital social worker found that the location where the hospital referred them was inappropriate for
- [The Lopp Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/the-lopp-family/) - ". . . Thank you for giving us a place to be with Bailey. . . Thank you for the donations that made this possible." See and hear their story and deep appreciation: The Lopp Family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbrmg8i3wOk
- [The Wallace Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/tim/)
- [The Dow Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/the-dow-family/) - "In 2021, I had a heart transplant. My wife and I were scared and worried after I got out of the hospital. I had to stay by the hospital for a month but one thing I didn't have to worry about was finding a place to stay. God sent me Denise and Heartfelt Help Foundation.
- [The Washington Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/the-washington-family/) - "We are the Washingtons. Dad is Denzel, mom is Sarah, daughter Alina who is 5, and son Adonis who is 2 years old. We are a full family of 4 expecting a plus 1 in October 2024. Life is such a meaningful word these days after such a turmoil of experiences through the last year.
- [The Bennett Family](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/testimonials/the-bennett-family/) - "We are so incredibly grateful for the Heartfelt Help Foundation! When our 14-year-old son Bodie suddenly needed a heart transplant, we found ourselves unexpectedly uprooted from our home in San Diego and living up in the Bay area. When Bodie was discharged from the hospital a month after receiving his new heart, it was amazing

## Global

- [Global](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/global/global/)

## Team

- [“Coach”](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/team/coach/) - Several people have volunteered to coach patients, and parents of pediatric patients, about basic money management. They are licensed professionals in a financial occupation who will work one-on-one, remotely, confidentially, completely free of charge, without any obligation or solicitation, and at the patient's or parent's level of need. They aim to help build, rebuild, stabilize,
- [Amanda Schmier](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/team/amanda-schmier-director/) - Amanda is a professional event planner who previously served the Foundation as a Director for a few years. She now creates our graphic designs, social media, and event information which are key to our brand and our non-grant fundraising.
- [Denise Redeker, Founder & Executive Director](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/team/denise-redeker-founder-executive-director/) - I received my new heart, my second chance at life, in January 2018. Once I recovered, I knew that I wanted to give back in some way to the transplant community that has helped me so much. I began volunteering with Donor Network West, my local Organ Procurement Organization and found a niche that I
- [Jim Redeker, Finance Director & Corporate Secretary](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/team/jim-redeker-director-finance-and-corporate-secretary/) - Jim is second of the three co-founders. He crafts HHF's strategy, focus, grant writing, financial operations, administration, and website. He retired as a Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Forensic Interviewer from a career in financial crimes investigations, legal compliance and business ethics, and auditing in insurance, utilities, and banking.
- [Brady Shaw, RN, CCRN](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/team/brady-shaw-rn/) - Brady found a passion for organ transplant patients when he worked as a cardiothoracic and transplant intensive care nurse and learned remarkable life stories and outcomes. He has a personal connection to heart transplant in that his young cousin passed while waiting for a suitable organ. Brady currently works for a transplant-focused medical device company.
- [Susan Bales](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/team/susan-bales/) - Susan has advocated for organ donation and transplant patients since the all-night vigil in the hospital during Denise's surgery. A retired educator, small business owner, and winemaker, she edits our many internal and public documents and does follow up with people we supported to learn their outcomes.
- [Time, Talent, and Tenacity: Seeking additional Directors and Specialists](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/team/time-talent-and-tenacity-we-seek-additional-directors-and-specialists/) - Would you consider helping us maintain the momentum, grow and polish our operation, and provide for recovering patients who need your help? We seek additions to the Board of Directors: people to guide, decide, and be responsible for the important issues in operating a nonprofit of our size and future, and who dig-in to the
- [Matthew Redeker, Director](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/team/matthew-redeker/) - Matthew is the third co-founder and helps to guide HHF’s strategy and operations. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and works full time as Sr. Vice President of Corporate Development for an international real estate software business.
- [Francisco Jaramillo](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/team/francisco-jaramillo/) - Francisco is a two-time Emmy award-winning television producer who edits the testimonial videos that patients themselves record for HHF's website.

## Podcast

- [The Duality of Gratitude and Grief, Part 1](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/the-duality-of-gratitude-and-grief/) - Denise Redeker participated in this podcast with the parents of three pediatric heart transplant recipients who Heartfelt Help Foundation supported. The Chris Klug Foundation was the interviewer and producer for this episode, and it has produced many others relating to organ donation and transplant.
- [Financial Toxicity](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/3364/) - In Episode 2 of The Unspoken, a podcast series of The Chris Klug Foundation, Denise Redeker speaks with Anna Morgan-Palardy of CKF about "Financial Toxicity" for transplant patients, when uninsured expenses become oppressive burdens, and what Heartfelt Help Foundation does to help people who can't afford costs associated with transplant that insurance doesn't cover.
- [LyfeTalks: Transplant Costs](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/lyfetalks-february-2025/) - Lyfebulb.com interviewer Jeanmarie, a kidney transplant recipient, talks with Denise Redeker from Heartfelt Help Foundation and Mari Lopp, mother of infant heart transplant recipient Bailey, about financial struggles of the transplant journey.
- [Beyond Survival](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/beyond-survival-w-denise-redeker-heart-transplant-survivor-supporter/) - Denise Redeker not only survived a life-saving heart transplant. After recovering, she founded the Heartfelt Help Foundation. Through her personal journey and commitment to helping others, Denise addresses the critical yet overlooked challenge of post-transplant housing costs, particularly in high-priced areas like Silicon Valley and San Francisco. This feature is published in 'The Roads Edition'
- [Two Party Podcast](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/two-party-podcast/) - Two Party Podcast talk show showcases guests in an unfiltered, organic and mostly unedited show that gives them the stage to promote...
- [Pre to Post Transplant](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/pre-to-post-transplant-podcast/) - Pre to Post Transplant Podcast is a podcast that brings personal stories from those awaiting transplant, transplant survivors, their families...
- [Unfiltered Survivors](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/unfiltered-survivors-podcast/) - Amanda DeJesus, a heart transplant survivor and Kelly Fucheck, stroke survivor share life UNFILTERED. Each episode they discuss the life of a survivor...
- [Heart Transplant Survivor](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/denise-redeker-heart-transplant-survivor/) - In this episode we talk to Denise Redeker about her heart disease journey which started at a young age and ended up resulting in a heart transplant.
- [The Transplant Strong](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/heart-transplant-heartfelt-help-foundation/) - Special Guest Denise Redeker
- [PTSD is real and weird](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/ptsd-is-real-and-weird/) - If you had asked me even a few months ago if I carried any PTSD with me from my heart transplant surgery, I’d probably have responded with…
- [Argus Courier Article](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/podcast/argus-courier-article/) - What started as a gathering in a living room to raise money for a friend with a family emergency grew into a nonprofit whose mission is to bring...

## Event

- [2025 Heartfelt Fun & Run](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/event/2025-heartfelt-fun-run/) - Invite friends and register today by the link below. Share your photos on social media and tag us!
- [2024 Heartfelt Fun & Run](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/event/2024-heartfelt-fun-run/)
- [2021 Heartfelt Fun & Run](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/event/heartfelt-help-fun-run/) - Mark your calendar! You will not want to miss Heartfelt Help Foundation’s first in-person celebration and fundraiser! The fun kicks-off with a virtual 5k inviting you to walk, run, bike, hike, swim, skate, or dance through any location you enjoy.
- [2023 Heartfelt Block Party](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/event/2023-heartfelt-block-party/) - Putting the FUN in fundraiser! Join Heartfelt Help Foundation at The Block in Petaluma for great food, drink, and music (Spike Sikes and his Awesome Hotcakes band) and a MASSIVE silent auction with something for everyone.
- [2022 Heartfelt Bike & Block Party](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/event/heartfelt-bike-block-party/) - The fun begins with a virtual cycling event that comes in three levels. The Fun Ride - for those of us new to cycling - the challenge is simply to get out on a ride of any length three days in a row The Vertical - for the serious cyclist. Your challenge is to see
- [2021 Heartfelt Market](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/event/shop-with-heartfelt-market/) - Shop with Heartfelt Help Foundation at our favorite local businesses here in Sonoma Country. They will donate 20% to help heart transplant recipients in financial need.
- [2023 Heartfelt Fun & Run](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/event/2023-heartfelt-fun-run/) - Our annual Heartfelt Fun & Run is a virtual event so you can participate anywhere, anytime in September, and in ANY way you choose to move! Grab your friends and register today by clicking the link below. Share your photos on social media and tag us!
- [First Fundraiser](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/event/fundraiser/) - This one-day event, literally a "grassroots" fundraiser in Denise's back yard, raised $12,000 to help two heart transplant patients have sufficient funds to show their hospital that they could pay for their post-surgery temporary recovery housing.
- [Merchandise](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/event/merchandise/) - Supporting Local Artists Stay tuned for more Merch! In 2020, we worked with incredibly talented artists to help us come up with a design for a limited release of hats and T-shirts.

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://heartfelthelpfoundation.com/category/uncategorized/)