Open your heart for a cause worth fighting for

Maori warrior girl Merapi Uangakore, 11 years old (Auckland), soldier boy Jesse Eastlake, 14 months old (Auckland) and boxer boy Marc Tai, 4 years old (Auckland). Photos / Carmen Bird Photography

Jesse Eastlake was born a soldier.

The day after he came into the world, he was rushed to Starship Hospital for life-saving surgery, before having open-heart surgery at six days old.

The 14-month-old Aucklander has a life-threatening congenital heart defect and is one of three "Heart Kids" whose stories feature in this year's Heart Kids New Zealand campaign.

It celebrates their strength and resilience with Jesse, 14 months old, dressed as a soldier, Merapi Uangakore, 11, a Maori warrior, and Marc Tai, 4, a boxer.

Today, Heart Kids, which supports Kiwi children and families affected by congenital heart disease (CHD), will be collecting on the streets for their awareness week.

And the Auckland Sky Tower is flashing red to mimic a beating heart until Thursday.

Jesse's mother Samantha Ramlu said her son was rushed to Starship with low blood oxygen levels after he was born last June.

"It was hard enough trying to come to terms with being new parents let alone now with a child with a very serious condition.

"We don't know what the future holds for Jesse - all we can hope is that he leads as normal a life as possible but there could be more surgeries down the line, complications that could arise from his original surgery, there's no defined path which is very scary at times." She described her family, including Jesse's dad Eugene Eastlake, as "one of the luckier families". "If a serious heart condition isn't spotted in time, a baby could die, some kids are on medication all their lives, some have had multiple surgeries but aren't well enough to enjoy what regular Kiwi kids take for granted, like going to camp or even school."

Merapi, who lives with her family in Clendon, was also born with life-threatening heart defects and has had three open-heart surgeries, the first at six days old. For most of her life she has been on oxygen 24 hours a day and is unable to attend school.

Marc, who lives in Parnell, was born with a hole in his heart which wasn't discovered until he was 11 weeks old. He underwent seven hours of open-heart surgery and was put on life support. He is now an energetic 4-year-old.

The children are three of more than 2800 Heart Kids children and families.

The organisation receives no funding from the Government.

Make a donation to Heart Kids volunteers on NZ streets today, or text HEART to 2427 for a $3 donation.