Lorelei McIntyre-Brewer

Ten-year-old Lorelei McIntyre-Brewer of Duncannon, Pennsylvania, defines resilience. She is the daughter of Michelle McIntyre-Brewer and Medical Service Corps Officer Capt. Steven Brewer.

Lorelei was born missing half of her heart, and her twin brother, Rory, passed away before the two were able to meet. She underwent open-heart surgery shortly after her birth at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and has since undergone 21 medical procedures, including three open-heart surgeries.

After her third open-heart surgery, Lorelei’s lungs collapsed and she started to literally drown in fluid surrounding her heart and lungs. After a long, grueling recovery, Lorelei survived her ordeal, but it changed her forever. At 5, she learned to sew to make compression heart pillows for pediatric open-heart patients, aiding in their recovery from surgery. She named her organization Heart Hugs, and it spread like wildfire.

Heart Hugs works with children's hospitals, orphanages and individual families to provide these pillows at no cost to the patient and family, using the kindness of volunteers around the world to help Lorelei ensure no child is turned away. Lorelei was awarded Dr. Oz’s Every Day Health Hero in 2015 for her work with Heart Hugs, of which she is the founder and CEO. She was also recognized by Points of Light Foundation and received the Maryland Volunteerism Award for her creation of Heart Hugs.

Lorelei also helps her brother, Cavan, the 2015 Army Military Child of the Year, manage Socks for Vets. Lorelei assists her brother in collecting goods for veterans and helped to train and care for the goats used to provide service support to wounded warriors.

Lorelei is a lifelong Girl Scout, receiving the highest distinction for a Junior Girl Scout, the Bronze Award, and has also been recognized as an Agent of Change. She participates in 4-H Club as secretary, earned the Bronze Clover, and is a National Trend Spotter. She advocates for children with profound medical needs on behalf of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Ronald McDonald House, Brittany’s Hope, Susquehanna Service Dogs, Congenital Heart Information Network and many other organizations.

Lorelei, who has a 4.0 grade point average, participates in the Single Ventricle Survivorship Program, the Cardiac Kids Developmental Follow-Up Program, and the Single Ventricle Revision Study Program.

Lorelei has endured seven military-related relocations and has experienced 36 months of her father’s deployment on top of her medical conditions. She has remained determined to make a difference.

Lorelei is not even thinking about slowing down. As she explained, "I am missing half of my heart, and people sometimes think I can’t do anything, but I can." And she does.

Service Highlights

• Founder and CEO of Heart-Hugs
• Socks for Vets
• Brittany’s Hope
• Susquehanna Service Dogs
• Congenital Heart Information Network
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Ronald McDonald House
• The Congenital Heart Information Network

Other Highlights

• Girl Scouts
• 4-H Duncannon Cloverleaves
• The Cove School Writing Club
• The Cove School Photography Club

Favorite Quote:

Explaining how that quote applies to her, Lorelei said, "I can be so many things and help so many people as long as I stay focused."