FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
BATON ROUGE – LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri was the special guest recently at “Home Run for Hearts,” an event benefitting the Louisiana Pediatric Cardiology Foundation. The Louisiana Pediatric Cardiology Foundation provides support to area children who are suffering from cardiac disease.
“Home Run for Hearts” featured Baton Rouge family members who have been touched by children with heart disease.
Mainieri was joined at the event, held at the home of Todd and Jennifer Viator, by several members of LSU’s 2009 national championship team.
Mainieri delivered a message about working to overcome obstacles in order to achieve goals.
“What made this 2009 championship team so special was the fact that every single individual had overcome some adversity along the way to the championship,” Mainieri said.
Members of the 2009 squad in attendance at “Home Run for Hearts” included Buzzy Haydel, Sean Ochinko, Ryan Schimpf, Nicholas Pontiff, Chris McGhee and Blake Dean.
Also in attendance were three Baton Rouge pediatric cardiologists who treat local children affected with heart disease — Dr. Michael Crapanzano, Dr. Lester Hixon and Dr. Michael Brumund.
Congenital heart defects are the number one birth defect in the world, and approximately 40,000 children are born with heart defects each year. Local children affected with heart disease are closely monitored by a pediatric cardiologist; however, surgical intervention is often performed out of state.
For more information about the Louisiana Pediatric Cardiology Foundation, visit www.lpcf.com.
