Mack and Sonoma

One Mighty Mission. Every Brave Heart.

Mack was born with a congenital heart defect. Today, while he waits for a transplant at Lurie Children's Hospital, he reminds us all what real superpowers look like: courage, kindness, and never giving up.

Give a Heart Read Mack's Story
♥ Who We Are

Born Out of Love.

We are Erica and Chad Pecora, and our world changed the day our son Macklin was diagnosed with a rare and serious congenital heart defect. Inside the hospital walls — surrounded by brave little fighters and unbreakable parents — we were welcomed into the CHD community.

The Community

We met families who had walked this road before us and families just beginning. We saw the strength it takes to hand your child over for surgery and the love it takes to keep going.

The Road Ahead

Macklin’s journey isn’t over. He still has more surgeries ahead and more care to come. But we are blessed beyond measure for the incredible team at Lurie Children’s Hospital — especially the CDU team, who became family to us.

The Mission

That’s why we built The Mighty Mack Foundation — to advocate for CHD awareness, celebrate every heart warrior, and connect the families walking this road so no one walks it alone.

“

No family should ever have to face CHD alone — and even the smallest gesture of support can mean everything on the hardest days.

— Erica & Chad Pecora, Founders
❤ Chapter One

Mack's Story

01

Born a Fighter

Mack came into the world with a rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. From his very first breath, he showed us he was here to fight.

02

The Cape Comes On

Already brave beyond his years, Mack has faced open-heart surgery before his first birthday. The doctors and nurses at Lurie's call him their "littlest superhero" — and the name stuck.

03

Waiting for a Miracle

Today, Mack is on the heart transplant list. While he waits, he giggles, he babbles, he grips every nurse's finger with a mighty grip, and he reminds his whole family that hope is a superpower too.

"

Mama, no sad. Mack here to heal my friends.

— Macklin Pecora
✦ What We Stand For

Our Pillars

Four promises that drive everything we do — for Mack and every heart warrior.

Advocate

Mighty Mack stands beside every CHD family, raising our voices to push for research funding, better care options, and the belief that every heart warrior deserves the future they were born to have.

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Educate

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Mighty Mack helps share vital information about congenital heart defects, treatment advances, and what to expect.

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Connect

No one should walk this road alone. Mighty Mack brings CHD families together — linking parents to parents, kids to kids, and hearts to hearts — in every corner and every country.

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Celebrate

Every heartbeat is a victory. From hearts that beat strong after surgery to quiet wins and big milestones, we celebrate the courage and the strength of every heart warrior.

Learn More →
✦ Our Mission

Because every kid deserves a shot at tomorrow.

The Mighty Mack Foundation was founded in honor of Mack and every child like him. We exist to lighten the load on families navigating pediatric heart disease — and to fuel the research that will one day make stories like Mack's the exception, not the rule.

Family Support

Meal cards, lodging, and gas grants for families living at the hospital.

Research Grants

Funding pediatric cardiology research at leading children's hospitals.

Comfort Capes

Every newly-diagnosed kid at Lurie's gets a Mighty Mack cape of their own.

Live Fundraising Progress Live
$0 loading current total…
Goal: — 0%
0 Donations received
1 Little hero supported
100% Of funds to Mack & research
501(c)(3) Tax-deductible
Room 412 Stable
Patient Mack ✦ Age 1
Status Awaiting transplant
Favorite thing Soft puppy plushie 🐶
Today's mood Heroic ⚡
✚ Mack's Second Home

Lurie Children's Hospital

For more than a year, Mack has spent most of his days at Lurie Children's Hospital — a place where superheroes wear scrubs, the IV poles have names, and every hallway has a story worth telling.

The cardiac team at Lurie's has become Mack's extended family. The nurses know exactly how he likes to be rocked to sleep. The child-life specialists know which lullabies calm him during an echocardiogram. The doctors know that no medical chart can capture how big this little kid's heart really is.

A portion of every dollar raised by The Mighty Mack Foundation goes directly back to Lurie's pediatric cardiology program — so the next family that walks through those doors finds the same incredible care that has carried Mack this far.

24/7 Pediatric Cardiac CCU
Family Housing Program
Top-10 Children's Hospital
Child Life Services
★ Join the League

Be a Mighty One

Three ways to power up Mack's mission — pick your superpower.

I

Donate

Every dollar fuels research, comfort capes, and family support at Lurie's.

Give now →
II

Volunteer

Help host events, assemble comfort capes, or read to kids on the cardiac ward.

Sign up →
III

Register

Become an organ donor. One decision can save up to eight lives — including Mack's.

Learn how →
◆ From the Cardiac Ward

Latest Updates

View all →
Milestone
April 28, 2026

Mack turns ONE on the ward — and Lurie's throws him a parade.

Doctors, nurses, and a roomful of homemade-caped supporters marched down the cardiac hallway. Best first birthday ever.

Big News
April 12, 2026

We've delivered our 3,800th Comfort Cape.

To the parents who sew them, the volunteers who pack them, and the kids who wear them: thank you. You are the league.

Research
March 30, 2026

$120K grant funded to Lurie's transplant rejection study.

Our biggest research grant yet, supporting work that could change outcomes for kids on the transplant list.

The Mighty Mack cartoon cast — Mack with his doctor, nurse, and surgeon team
Mini Cartoon Series

Watch Mack's Adventures

Follow Mighty Mack through heartwarming cartoon episodes — from getting his cape to rallying his team.

Watch Now ▶
✎ Sign Up

Join the League

Whether you want to volunteer, host an event, sew a Comfort Cape, or just stay in the loop on Mack's journey — we'd love to have you. Fill out the form and someone from the team will reach out within 48 hours.

✓ Monthly updates from Mack & family
✓ Early access to fundraising events
✓ Volunteer & Comfort Cape opportunities
✓ Stories from the cardiac ward

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