"Our family has been blessed in so many ways. Regretfully, other children have not been so fortunate. The creation of the foundation was inspired by our children. We developed the Peterson Foundation (the petersonfoundation.org) to support children in need throughout the Kansas City area—to affect positive change and help brighten our children’s future. Its mission is to help children in any way we can. We hope to grow the foundation over the coming years and expand its reach and support as far as possible."

About The Peterson Foundation

The Peterson family was touched in a very dramatic way when it was learned shortly before her birth, Lauren, one of the identical twins, had a hypoplastic right ventricle (small right ventricle) and pulmonary atresia (no pulmonary valve). "We were told during the diagnosis that she would likely die. We then got Children’s Mercy Hospital involved. They were fantastic. Dr. Gowdamarajan was the cardiologist that developed the overall treatment plan. Dr. Hubbell performed a catheter procedure almost immediately after her birth to open her right ventricle to her pulmonary artery using a technique that he both developed and that had been done only a handful of times. Dr. Lofland later performed the open heart and open chest surgeries she underwent. Lauren went through over a year of procedures and treatments to get her where she is today. She is now 8 and doing great. We are grateful to Children’s Mercy Hospital and its entire group, and especially to Dr. Rajan, Dr. Lofland and Dr. Hubbell."