OUR STORY

The doctors were able to restart her heart, but they knew something was very wrong. An electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed that Shea had 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 both Shea and our family. The medications available today are effective, but they can come with debilitating side effects, including frequent vomiting, seizures, and relentless fatigue—side effects that can prevent Shea from enjoying many of the everyday experiences children her age take for granted. And while current treatments reduce risk, they do not eliminate the possibility of sudden death.

Faced with the reality of these limitations, we were unwilling to simply accept the status quo. The journey through diagnosis and treatment opened our eyes to the urgent need for better, safer, and more effective therapies for LQTS. Shea’s bravery and perseverance inspired us to do more, not only for our family, but for the countless other living with the same fear and uncertainty.

We founded Hearts in Harmony with the mission to accelerate the development of innovative treatments and bring us closer to a cure for LQTS. In partnering 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 more than scientific progress. It represents hope for families who live every day knowing that LQTS can take a loved one without warning. It represents the possibility of treatments that do more than reduce risk—treatments that allow children like Shea to live fuller, healthier, more joyful lives.

Thank you for being a part of our journey.
Kira & Mark Greenfield