Screening Hearts In Philadelphia, Pa.
Phyllis and Darren Sudman, founders of Simon's Fund. Courtesy of Simon's Fund hide caption
Phyllis and Darren Sudman, founders of Simon's Fund.
Courtesy of Simon's FundPhyllis and Darren Sudman started Simon's Fund in 2005, after their 3-month-old son Simon died in his sleep. They learned later that Simon had an undetected silent heart condition.
Today, Simon's Fund provides free heart screenings to children throughout the Philadelphia area to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy.
Because of Simon's Fund, nearly 5,000 students have been screened and 43 have discovered unknown, potentially-fatal heart conditions. The Fund has also sponsored medical research projects, hosted awareness events and advocated legislation that raises awareness of warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.
Heather Brucker is a friend of the Sudmans. She listens to WHYY and heard about Participation Nation via Twitter.