Coach Swinney, Susan Smith, Jason Smith, and Kathleen Swinney

Dabo’s All in Team Foundation® has awarded a grant to the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation to purchase pulse oximeter machines for Oconee Medical Center in Seneca, South Carolina to assist in early detection of CHDs (congenital heart defects).

The mission of the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation is to help babies who are born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) through supporting research efforts focused on innovative methods of treatment, prevention and diagnosis. They also support parents while they are preparing for and caring for a child with a CHD.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the #1 birth defect. More than 44,000 infants (1 out of every 100) are born with heart defects each year in the United States; that’s 1 every 15 minutes. CHD is most common birth defect, and the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths. The defect may be so slight that the baby appears healthy for many years after birth, or so severe that its life is in immediate danger. CHDs are responsible for one third of all birth defect-related deaths and sadly 20 percent of children who make it through birth will not survive past their first birthday.

The Emerson Rose Heart Foundation was started by Susan and Jason Smith of Clemson, S.C. in honor of their daughter Emerson Rose who passed on June 26, 2011. More information can be found at www.emersonroseheartfoundation.org.