Yes, we know that typically “caring” is spelled with a C. We’ve chosen the name “Karing Hearts Cardiology” with a K, as a tribute to Kari Elizabeth Schoondyke, Dr. Schoondyke’s daughter, who passed away at 7 months old in 2009.

If you’re a parent, you know having a child will change how you view most everything. But being a cardiologist, and having your child die from a congenital heart defect changes EVERYTHING.

Kari was born on August 13, 2008. Within a matter of days my medical training lead me to believe something wasn’t right. It was confirmed that our precious daughter had a life-threatening congenital heart defect. At nine days old Kari underwent her first open-heart surgery. While considered a success, it was always known Kari would need more heart surgeries as she grew. At seven months old, it was time for her next operation. She went into the hospital on March 19, 2009 for her second open-heart surgery, from which she would not recover. We lost Kari at 12:46 pm on April 7, 2009