Aidan’s Heart Foundation is a nonprofit organization, founded by Christy Marshall-Silva, after the devastating loss of her young son, writes Nick Iadonisi for 6ABC. 

On Sept. 4, 2010, when Aidan was just seven years old, he passed away from sudden cardiac arrest. Shocked by the unexpected loss of her son, Marshall-Silva was determined to learn how to stop another potential tragedy from happening, and shortly after, Aidan’s Heart Foundation was born.  

“I never dreamed this would happen,” said Marshall-Silva. “When we started the foundation, my biggest goal was to honor Aidan’s legacy and save lives.” 

Mashall-Silva sought to protect others from dealing with the same heart-wrenching agony she faced. Aidan’s Heart Foundation provides heart screenings, CPR classes, and places Automatic External Defibrillators around the community, to educate others and stop preventable deaths. 

“We started teaching CPR at Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center ten years ago,” Marshall-Silva said. “We’ve trained over 10,000 students here in Downingtown. We figured let’s start with the young people in our community, that way we’ll change the culture of our community’s ability to respond to cardiac arrest.” 

She will continue to honor Aidan and give invaluable education to the Downingtown community. 

Read more about how the legacy of Aidan lives on through his mother’s efforts at 6ABC.