Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common type of birth defect, affecting nearly 1% of births each year in the United States alone. They are conditions that are present at birth and can affect the structure and function of a baby's heart.
You will find a lot of our “Made-on-Demand” apparel and accessory items featuring the “1 in 100” logo. Anyone in the CHD recognizes this statistic and it's meant to serve as a reminder, for awareness, support, and acknowledgement for everyone who “gets it”.
Despite the challenges posed by these conditions, many individuals with CHDs lead successful and inspirational lives, including some notable celebrities and their children. Here are 25 such individuals, some of whom you may recognize:
- Jimmy Kimmel, the famous American television host known for his late-night show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" had a son, William "Billy" Kimmel, who was born with Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. Billy has undergone multiple surgeries to correct the defect.
- Olympic gold medal-winning snowboarder Shaun White was born with Tetralogy of Fallot. He underwent two open-heart surgeries before the age of one.
- Former NFL player Greg Olsen's son, TJ, was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. TJ has undergone multiple surgeries throughout his life including a heart transplant in 2021.
- Charles Tillman, a former American football cornerback for the NFL, has a daughter, Tiana, who was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, necessitating a heart transplant at a young age.
- Fox News anchor Brett Baier's son, Paul, was born with five congenital heart defects, including a hole in his heart and two malformed valves. Paul has undergone three open-heart surgeries.
- Singer and songwriter Jessie J was born with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a type of supraventricular tachycardia, and underwent an operation at a young age to correct it.
- Max Page, also known as “Darth Vadar Kid” from the Volkswagen Superbowl commercial and “Reed” in the daytime soap opera, “The Young and the Restless”, has undergone multiple surgeries and hospitalizations for his complex heart defect.
- Tedy Bruschi, a former American football player who was a linebacker in the NFL for 13 seasons for the New England Patriots, was born with a patent foramen ovale (hole in the heart).
- Actress Jamie Lee Curtis's adopted son, Thomas, was born with bicuspid aortic valve, a heart condition that has required him to undergo open-heart surgery.
- Survivor contestant, Whitney Duncan, was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD).
- Actor and director Ashton Kutcher, famous for his roles in "That '70s Show" and "Two and a Half Men," twin brother Michael Kutcher was born with a mild form of cerebral palsy and a heart condition, which required surgery when he was 13.
- Television and radio presenter Fearne Cotton has a congenital heart condition where she has an extra beat.
- English cricketer James Taylor was forced to retire due to a serious heart condition known as Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC).
- Record producer Swizz Beatz's son, Prince Nasir, was born with a congenital heart defect and has undergone multiple surgeries.
- English actress Kellie Shirley has a congenital heart defect where her heart skips a beat.
- Casey Mears, former competitive race car driver, was born with a heart murmur and a small hole in his heart.
- Ralph Branca, a former professional baseball player, was born with a hole in his heart.
- Tommy Bowe, a former Irish rugby union player, was born with a hole in his heart.
- Colin Jackson, a Welsh former sprint and hurdling athlete, was born with a hole in his heart.
- Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, an American former astronaut and one of the first two humans to land on the moon, was born with a ventricular septal defect (hole in the heart).
- Actress Jenna Dewan, known for her roles in films like "Step Up," has a heart condition called Supraventricular Tachycardia.
- Singer Elton John's son, Zachary, was born with a heart condition, which has been kept private for protection of his privacy.
- Singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper's son, Declyn, was born with supraventricular tachycardia, a heart condition that causes a rapid heartbeat.
- MMA Fighter/Kickboxer Mark “Fight Shark” Miller was born with aortic stenosis.
- Joey McIntyre, a member of the band New Kids on the Block, had a son, Rhys, who was born with severe hearing loss and a hole in his heart.
These inspiring individuals have shown that with proper treatment and care, those born with congenital heart defects can still reach the pinnacle of their chosen professions, making valuable contributions to society.