Advertisement

Wearing red on both sides of Tampa Bay to support heart health

 
Rachael McCullough of Naples cares for her daughter, Elliana McCullough, 7 1/2 months at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Friday, Feb, 6, 2015.   Mom and baby decided to show their support by "going red" along with the staff at the hospital for National Wear Red Day to raise awareness and help support women affected by heart disease. The American Heart Association donated red hats and booties for babies, including Elliana,  in the cardiovascular intensive care unit. [CHERIE DIEZ   |   Times]
Rachael McCullough of Naples cares for her daughter, Elliana McCullough, 7 1/2 months at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Friday, Feb, 6, 2015. Mom and baby decided to show their support by "going red" along with the staff at the hospital for National Wear Red Day to raise awareness and help support women affected by heart disease. The American Heart Association donated red hats and booties for babies, including Elliana, in the cardiovascular intensive care unit. [CHERIE DIEZ | Times]
Published Feb. 9, 2015

National Wear Red Day was marked in many ways across Tampa Bay on Friday. The day, sponsored by the American Heart Association, is aimed at raising awareness that heart disease and stroke are deadly to women, not just men.

In St. Petersburg, the Heart Association donated red hats and booties for babies in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at All Children's Johns Hopkins Medicine.

One of the patients was 7½-month-old Elliana McCullough, who was born with heterotaxy syndrome, a rare disorder that results in certain organs forming on the opposite side of the body. The syndrome affects the heart 80 percent of the time.

On Dec. 5, Elliana had a successful complex biventrical repair done by Johns Hopkins All Children's Heart Institute cardiac surgeons Jeffrey Jacobs and James Quintessenza.

All Children's Hospital is celebrating the whole month of February as American Heart month to bring awareness to heart disease.

In Tampa, the Heart Association sponsored a 1-mile walk along Bayshore Boulevard in honor of the day.