Supporting Currence through a major heart procedure
Currence's story
Surrounded by her favorite stuffed animals and homemade artwork, Currence lights up as she shares the treasures that fill her bedroom. Books that she reads on repeat, cards created by friends and the special lovies that helped her through a major health event.
“She’s my baby girl,” said Lemar, Currence’s father. “She has a level of emotional intelligence that’s unlike most 7-year-olds.”
Currence, who often goes by “Curry,” has a big heart for all she meets — one that has come a long way since before she was born.
“About 20 weeks into our pregnancy, it was found in utero that Currence had a rare heart defect called permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia,” Lemar said.
Currence was treated medically in utero and, after birth, needed regular heart monitoring and medication to manage her condition until she was old enough to undergo surgery to correct the defect.
In 2024, Currence was approved for heart surgery. While the family faced the stress of the upcoming procedure, they were also concerned about the medical expenses associated with it.
“We were already trying to figure out, ‘How are we going to pay for this? How are we going to pay for the services we’re receiving at the hospital?’” said Christina, Currence’s mother.
With help from the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF), Currence’s family qualified for a grant to help cover the cost of the medical expenses related to her surgery.
“Not having to focus on the financial implications of Currence’s procedure allowed us to focus on our family, to focus on our child,” Lemar said.
Since 2005, UHCCF has awarded more than 45,000 grants valued at over $90 million. The funding pays for children’s medical expenses not covered, or not fully covered, by a commercial health insurance plan.
Currence’s surgery was a success, and doctors told her family they were 99% sure the defect was corrected. Today, she has no limitations and enjoys running and playing like a typical 7-year-old.
“When we say the impact the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation had on our lives was life-changing,” Lemar said, “it was literally life-changing.”
Are you eligible?
- Grant recipients must be 16 years old or younger at the time of application
- Must meet eligible income requirements
- Must be children under the care of a licensed medical professional with services rendered within the United States
- Primary coverage for a child must be by a commercial health plan, either through an employer or individually purchased. Secondary insurance through Medicaid or CHIP is permissible.
- Children do not need to be insured by UnitedHealthcare.
Do you know a family who could benefit from a children’s medical grant? The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is currently accepting grant applications. Visit UHCCF.org for more information on how to apply.
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