Our Story
Daddy's Big Heart Fund was created from a place of love, faith, and family.
Our father has always lived with purpose. He was a teacher in Boston, a graduate student working toward his Master's Degree, an active member of Twelfth Baptist Church, and a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He poured into his family, his students, his church, and his community.
Then life changed in a way none of us could have imagined.
Our dad was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition that made it difficult for his heart to properly pump blood throughout his body. Before his diagnosis, he was living a normal, happy, and active life. But this disease changed everything.
As his condition progressed, his health declined. In April 2013, he was placed on the official heart transplant registry to wait for a new heart. During that journey, he underwent major surgeries, including the implantation of a ventricular assist device, also known as an artificial heart pump, to help do the work his heart could no longer do on its own.
After years of waiting, praying, and fighting, our dad received the gift of a new heart.
His transplant gave our family hope, but it also opened our eyes to something many people never see until they are forced to live through it: the journey does not end after surgery. For heart transplant patients and their families, recovery comes with emotional, physical, and financial challenges. Even with health insurance, families may still face the cost of medications, transportation, parking, meals, caregiving, temporary housing, follow-up appointments, and other aftercare needs.
That is why Daddy's Big Heart Fund continues today.
What began as a way to support our father has grown into a mission to support other heart patients, transplant recipients, caregivers, and families navigating life-changing heart-related care. We know firsthand how overwhelming this journey can be, and we want to help make the road a little lighter for others.
Through fundraising, community support, awareness, and family assistance, Daddy's Big Heart Fund honors our father's journey by extending hope to families walking a similar path.
We sincerely thank you for your love, support, prayers, and contributions.
Together, we can bring hope for every beat.
What We Do Today
We provide practical, immediate relief so families can focus on what matters most — being present for their loved one.
While a patient fights for their life through heart surgeries, transplants, and intensive care, their family is fighting to stay by their side. The cost of daily parking, hospital meals, gas for commuting, and nearby lodging can quickly become overwhelming — even for families who were financially stable before the crisis began.
Our mission is to help alleviate that burden so families can focus entirely on loving and supporting their loved ones. Because walking someone through a medical crisis shouldn't cost a family their financial stability.
Through your generous donations, we provide:
We provide meals, parking, gas, and lodging assistance to families supporting loved ones through long-term hospitalizations and major heart surgeries.
Our Mission & Values
Everything we do is rooted in love, lived experience, and a commitment to supporting families affected by heart-related conditions.
Compassion
We lead with empathy because we understand how overwhelming the heart transplant and recovery journey can be. Every resource, event, and dollar raised is guided by care for patients, caregivers, and families.
Support
We believe no family should have to navigate a heart-related medical journey alone. Daddy's Big Heart Fund exists to help connect families with resources, encouragement, and community support when they need it most.
Hope
Our story is proof that hope can carry families through the hardest seasons. We work to remind heart patients, transplant recipients, and caregivers that they are not alone — and that hope is possible with every beat.
Awareness
We are committed to raising awareness about heart health, organ donation, transplant recovery, and the challenges families face before and after major heart-related care.
Resilience
We honor the strength it takes to face heart-related illness, transplant recovery, and caregiving. Daddy's Big Heart Fund exists to uplift families through the difficult moments and remind them that every step forward matters.
Advocacy
We believe awareness leads to action. Through education, outreach, and community support, we advocate for heart health, organ donation, and the needs of families navigating transplant and recovery.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Your support — whether financial or through your time — helps us reach more families every day.