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Empowering the congenital heart community

We partner with congenital patients to guide them through the heart transplant journey.
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Why we help

All too often, complex patients miss the opportunity for a second chance because they lack the resources to relocate to specialized medical centers with the expertise to save them. This can result in life-threatening delays or the inability to access lifesaving care altogether. We envision a world where no congenital patient in need of a transplant is left without hope, ensuring that financial and logistical barriers never stand in the way of receiving critical treatment.

Second Chance Hero was founded by Rafi Barragan, a double organ transplant recipient. who was born with a congenital condition known as Shone’s syndrome.
Picture of a man and Bodi, an Alaskan Malamute wearing a birthday hat
Woman in a hospital bed laying her head next to a service dog

How we help

There is a critical gap in resources for congenital patients awaiting transplants. Our goal is to establish a support network with financial assistance, ensuring that every congenital patient, regardless of their circumstances, has a fair shot at a second chance.

Currently: We provide critical support to transplant patients and their families by offering counseling services and connecting them with essential resources, including specialized mental health support to navigate the emotional challenges of the transplant journey.

Our Vision: We are actively working towards offering free accommodations for patients’ families during the transplant process, ensuring loved ones can be close by.

Why donate?

At Second Chance Hero, we’re focused on providing support and services for patients undergoing transplants. Our network of transplant warriors help provide authentic friendship, pet therapy, mental health services, and in the future, relocation assistance for those needing to travel to find life-saving treatment.
A man laying in a hospital bed with a service dog with her tongue out

Read our patient stories