He was born on July 4, 1991 as Sung-Hoon Kim in Ulsan, South Korea, to Mr. & Mrs. Jee Whan Kim, and weighed 5.2 lbs. He was not expected to live because he was born a ‘Blue Baby.’ Weeks after his birth, his family was told he had a severe congenital heart defect known as Heteratoxy Syndrome, a ‘Severe heart anomaly that is very difficult to correct.’

Through Healing the Children, an international non-profit organization, Sung-Hoon came to the U.S. to live with the family of Arthur and Angeles Glick. The rest of this story is fate. The Glicks cared for him through four major surgeries over a span of four years, ultimately adopting him and making him their eighth child. Through the miracle of medical science and the love he received in the Glick household, Sung-Hoon thrived. He blossomed into a handsome young man who loved music, video games, and scouting. He loved to read and played the violin. He was a friend to all and always had the gift of laughter. He was also a very courageous young man – optimistic about his surgery and the future he dreamt of.

He graduated from Buddy Taylor Middle School, Palm Coast, Florida in 2006. He then finished the 9th grade at Matanzas High School.

On July 31st, he entered Shands Hospital in Gainsville to undergo another heart surgery. Hopefully, this one would be his last. On August 13th, after 13 days in the ICU, Sung passed away due to complications from surgery.  He will be missed by his two families who are grieving for him.

However, this does not have to happen to other children and their families.  Through HTC there is hope for some. Right now there are thousands of children, both in the United States and abroad, waiting for someone to give them the hope that the Glicks gave Sung-Hoon. You can help make their hope for a good life a reality.

Won’t you give one of these children the gift of life? HTC and the Glick family are establishing the Sung Glick Cardiac Fund - Shands. If you want to give a child with a heart problem the gift of life, please use this printable form to make your donation.