OUR STORY

The doctors were able to restart her heart, but they knew something was very wrong. An electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed a prolonged QT interval, meaning her heart’s electrical system was taking longer than usual to recharge between beats. Genetic testing confirmed: Shea had Long QT Syndrome Type 2, one of the most severe cases her doctors had ever seen in a newborn.

Living with LQTS is a daily battle for every family it affects. The medications available today are effective, but many patients experience debilitating side effects, including frequent vomiting, seizures, and relentless fatigue. For a child, that can mean missing out on everyday experiences other kids take for granted. And while current treatments reduce risk, they do not eliminate the possibility of sudden death.

We were unwilling to accept the status quo. Shea’s diagnosis opened our eyes to the urgent need for safer, more effective therapies for LQTS, and her bravery inspired us to do more, not only for our family but for the countless others living with the same fear and uncertainty.

We founded Hearts in Harmony to accelerate the development of innovative treatments and bring us closer to a cure for LQTS. In partnership with Dr. Michael Ackerman at the Mayo Clinic, we’re advancing groundbreaking research toward what could become the first FDA-approved treatment specifically for LQTS. Dr. Ackerman has assembled a team of leading scientists working to identify new drug therapies within the next 12–24 months. Their goal is to discover at least five promising drug candidates and advance toward human clinical trials within five years.

This research represents hope for families who live every day knowing LQTS can take a loved one without warning. It represents the possibility of treatments that do more than reduce risk, so children with LQTS can live fuller, healthier, more joyful lives.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

Kira & Mark Greenfield