10/07/2026
Meet Traci Hays, and our volunteer region leader of the CHF SoCal - Hawaii Region! ❤
"I was born with a rare congenital heart defect called Transposition of the Great Vessels and entered the world fighting. Just days after I was born, I underwent the first of three open-heart surgeries at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. The procedure was performed by renowned surgeon Dr. Vaughn Starnes, using the pioneering Jatene Procedure—a technique he had only successfully performed five times before. My second surgery came when I was four, after a portable EKG detected cardiac arrhythmia. The third followed years later, after I collapsed during a high school soccer game.
For over a decade, I’ve channeled those early challenges into storytelling, directing studio-distributed feature films that explore resilience, identity, and the strength of the human spirit. Today, I’m not just surviving—I’m thriving, back on the field playing soccer in a women’s rec league in Los Angeles.
I’m deeply honored to serve as a Region Leader for The Children’s Heart Foundation. From participating in the annual Los Angeles Congenital Heart Walk at Griffith Park to attending monthly meetings, recruiting volunteers, and raising awareness through social media, this work is deeply personal to me. With my background in the entertainment industry, I’m actively working to engage high-profile actors and crew to help amplify our mission and bring greater visibility to congenital heart defects here in Los Angeles."
