Home - Heartfelt Help Foundation

When doctors require it, insurance doesn’t cover it, and patients can’t afford it, we 'make housing happen' for heart transplant recipients, and help them pay other essential but unaffordable expenses.

Heartfelt Help Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that directly helps financially challenged heart transplant recipients and parents of pediatric patients through two programs:

Lodging: We help pay for medically required temporary recovery housing near the hospital.

Equity and Access are what we’re about. We help under-resourced people have the same clean, safe, private, and individualized lodging that others of larger means use, and equally close to the hospital for follow up care. We provide lodging that facilitates recovery during the initial fragile month or months after surgery until patients are stable enough for their doctors to allow them to return home. With HHF, heart transplant recipients can be Transplant Thrivers because their recovery wasn’t limited by their personal financial situation.

Axel’s Helping Hand: We help pay for other expenses that are essential but unaffordable because of the transplant.

For example, some patients or parents of pediatric patients are unable to return to work as soon or as fully as expected and, therefore, become unable to pay for necessities like rent, lease, mortgage, utilities, medications, health insurance premium, deductible or copayment, car loan or its repair when unsafe, groceries, or medical travel.

We developed and named the program in honor of a young child who was unable to return home after his heart transplant and 600 days in the hospital. Non-lodging essential expenses nearly broke his family.

We support patients from the San Francisco Bay Area hospitals.

Donations are tax deductible.

Tax ID #85-0941720

To learn why your support is important, read Axel’s story here and Alina’s story here and Armaneigh’s story here

Also see our Prospectus for more information on why what we do matters.

Businesses Make a Difference

Businesses large and small support HHF. Look at the long list! Our internal controls, few and small expenses, and all-volunteer management and staff allow grants and gifts to focus on people in need.

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YOU Make a Difference

You help deeply immune suppressed patients recover in a way they can’t on their own: in clean, safe, private lodging, not communal living, that is near the hospital, comfortable, and individualized, the same as people of larger means use. This facilitates recovery and helps them return home as soon and as strong as possible.

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You'll Love Our Mission

We exist to ensure Equity in and Access to healthcare for heart transplant recipients in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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WE WON!

Denise Redeker, Founder of Heartfelt Help Foundation, won the 2024 Bounce Back, Give Back award of the Chris Klug Foundation that advocates nationwide for organ, eye, and tissue donation. Check out the CKF website to see why. And register there TODAY to be a donor. Every day, 17 people die while waiting for a suitable organ. 100,000 people are waiting.

Getting Involved

We support real people with real needs who require real help real soon.
We’d love your financial, fundraising, or operational support.

Grateful People

Read quotes in our Testimonials section and see and hear many of our beneficiaries in our YouTube channel.

Hear Their Thanks

Fun in Fundraising

Thank You! to our wonderful donors, grantors, sponsors, and event participants for your generous support. Let's broadcast how all together we are helping people into their second chance at life!

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Help Wanted

Join HHF and directly help Make Housing Happen for people beginning recovery into their second chance at life.

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Transforming the Lives of Patients & Their Families

“. . . 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

-The Lopp 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 Armaneigh’s fragile condition. The hospital lacked another location to place them or financial resources to subsidize them elsewhere. A peer parent told Tianna about Heartfelt Help Foundation. HHF found appropriate local lodging, negotiated a discounted rate, and Armaneigh recovered for more than two months in a hotel suite tailored to their situation.

Tianna recorded a video thanking the contributors to Heartfelt Help Foundation who made this lodging possible. Meet the Williams Family!

“I am so grateful that we get to be part of the Heartfelt Help Foundation. This is the best opportunity that we could have been given. We are in local housing about 15 minutes from the hospital. I don’t have to stress about getting her to and from hospital appointments, therapy appointments. It’s just great, so great. And I am forever grateful to Heartfelt Help Foundation for everything you guys are doing for me and my daughter. We love you Heartfelt Help Foundation! Thank you so much!”

Read their full story here, as Tianna wrote it. It’s long yet really is a “must read.”

-The Williams 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. On April 4, 2024, our life changed forever. Hit with unexpected news about our wonderful and spontaneous daughter Alina. We had noticed she was not herself as of late. Sadly, news came about that our sweet girl had been diagnosed with a heart disease called Restrictive Cardiomyopathy and she would have to have a heart transplant. To add on she would not be able to go home because she would need to be monitored close at the hospital and have to be put on Ventricular Assist Devices (BIVAD). . . .”

“… When it comes down to after the surgeries are done, after the worry is gone that you or your family member will make it past that traumatic experience, when you leave those hospital doors other obstacles arise that people don’t talk about enough. Thank you, Axel’s Helping Hand program. We are forever grateful to you.”

Read their lodging story here, as written by Denzel, and their follow up story about ongoing financial struggles here.

-The Washington Family

“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.

She lived in the hospital with him the whole time.

-Precious Axel, until we meet again . . .

“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 to know we had a safe space for him to recover. To have a place to stay free from germs and crowds, where he could have his own space to rest and heal, and where we could cook meals without worrying about exposing him to unnecessary germs, gave us such peace of mind.

His recovery since then has been nothing short of miraculous, and I attribute that so much to being in a quiet and peaceful environment to heal. For a 14-year-old, having an environment that replicated home was key, and thanks to HHF, we were able to do that for him! He was able to help cook meals and take long walks every day. When my husband and daughter came to visit, we had enough space for them to stay as well!

We can never thank the Heartfelt Help Foundation enough for their assistance during such a stressful time! We will always be fans of HHF!”

-The Bennett 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, they had no one to help with finding a new home. HHF helped them find a local apartment and settle in for their new life.

Red their story here, as written by her mother.

-The S&H 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 this challenging time, I found it helpful to remember that there is hope ahead.

One bright spot in our journey was Denise from the Hartfelt Help Foundation. Her support was invaluable, alleviating some of the burdens we faced by helping us find a place to stay. Moreover, Denise took the time to visit us in the hospital, which meant a great deal to our family. We are truly grateful for everything she and the foundation have done for us. Thank you, Denise, for making a positive difference in our lives.”

-The Martinez Family

“What would someone do at the height of stress over a serious medical condition?

Wilbert had a bad heart and was very sick. We asked GOD for help. Our prayers were heard. For HE sent his angels on “persona” to help us. Medical staff, doctors, surgeons from Kaiser and Stanford Hospitals who are all specialized in cardiology got involved to help Wilbert’s heart condition.

He now has a new and healthy heart!️ We thank everyone. These Angels God sent for this miraculous healing, not just medical staff but also people who were with us at this time of healing. We thank Ms. Denise Redeker and The Heartfelt Help Foundation for being there not just for moral but also financial support, who sponsored our place to stay near the hospital for follow-up appointments and rehabilitation after heart transplant. Denise became a part of the family, whom we can reach for any questions and around for us. Thank You!!!

The Heartfelt Help Foundation’s heartfelt dedication and help to each and everyone in need makes a difference in everyone’s life they touched, like ours. More power to Ms. Denise and The Heartfelt Help Foundation!”

-The Dow 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 of our lives. Although words cannot express our gratitude, we hope the Heartfelt Help Foundation knows we appreciate their generous and genuine support. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

-The Leano Family

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 time to thank you for this generous gift. There are not enough words to put into writing to express our gratitude. Prior to transplant I remember thinking this was going to be a lot easier. I did not think we would hit the crazy rollercoaster we have been on for 19 months now. The financial hardships this has caused our family are so incredible stressful. It is so hard to care for M and advocate for all his needs when we are constantly losing sleep over how our bills are going to be paid. We are once again living paycheck to paycheck and even that is not enough. We are always asking for payment extensions. By having our rent covered we can catch up and won’t lose our home. The Foundation has been our saving grace through this entire journey. I honestly do not know what we would have done without the support, love, prayers and hope you all have given us. Once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”