Joining Forces

EVERY FALL, Britt Melsheimer’s family and friends lace up their high tops to participate in the Hoops for a Heart basketball tournament. The inspiration for the Westport, Connecticut, fundraiser is her son Evan, who was born with a single ventricle heart defect. Eager to help her baby and all families affected by the rare condition, Britt sought answers from the expert who saved her son’s life.

Rahul Rathod, MD, created the FORCE Registry in 2020, which harnesses data from hospitals worldwide and uses artificial intelligence to predict a child’s need for intervention before a life-threatening event. Britt is fiercely committed to Dr. Rathod’s vision, and the money she raises through the Fundraise Your Way program has helped give the international consortium a solid foundation to expand, strengthen and support families around the globe. FORCE continues to grow, with 36 participating institutions and over 3,700 patients enrolled. “When I see Dr. Rathod, he’s so excited to tell me how much the registry has grown and reminds me that my belief in him was crucial to how far we have come today,” says Britt.