Imagine what a child must feel when they are told they can no longer participate in competitive sports because they have an arrhythmia of the heart. It could be devastating to anyone, but even more devastating is the sudden death of a child because the warning signs of heart rhythm abnormalities were not recognized.

The Brianna Badger Foundation was started in memory of our daughter who died from Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), a cardiac arrhythmia three times more common in the U.S. than childhood leukemia. Each month in the United States, hundreds of young people like Brianna die suddenly and unexpectedly due to cardiac arrhythmias.  LQTS is just one of many cardiac arrhythmias that can cause sudden death in children and young adults, most of which are identifiable and treatable.   As many as 12 in every 5,000 young people may have an arrhythmia that can cause sudden death.  Additionally, researchers have been investigating a possible link between SIDS, SUDC and long QT syndrome and have discovered that approximately 10 to 15 percent of SIDS cases studied had LQTS.

The Brianna Badger Foundation’s mission is to increase awareness of the warning signs of heart rhythm abnormalities among pediatricians, school nurses, daycares throughout Colorado. We also support organizations like the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (www.sads.org) Foundation and the American Heart Association (www.americanheart.com).

Please consider supporting our mission by making a contribution today. The Brianna Badger Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.  Contact us if you would like more information on Long QT or other cardiac arrhythmia syndromes.

With your support to date, the Brianna Badger Foundation has donated $75,000 to the American Heart Association and the SADS Foundation combined. The Brianna Badger Foundation is dedicated to increasing awareness of heart conditions in children and young adults in Colorado. The SADS’ mission is to save the lives and support the families of children and young adults who are genetically predisposed to sudden death due to heart rhythm abnormalities.