Congratulations to Savannah, Sarasota magazine’s October Incredible Kid!

Savannah's younger brother, Nico, was born with a congenital heart defect and had life-saving open-heart surgery at just six days old. Nico’s mom, Nicole, said doctors discovered his heart defect only because Sarasota Memorial Hospital gives every infant a cardiac screening, but Florida is one of just four states in the country that don’t require them by law.

Savannah has become a tenacious advocate for automatic infant cardiac screening to become mandatory under state statute in Florida. She has even taken it so far as to approach legislators and share her story. Last year, Savannah met with State Senator Joe Gruters, who filed a bill on her behalf. She worked hard to obtain a cosponsor from the State House, and Margaret Good filed a House version of the bill.

After several trips to Tallahassee during the legislative session to lobby for the bill, she presented to the Health Policy Committee for the Senate, and the bill passed unanimously. Savannah has shown incredible passion for this issue and for children like her brother. We’re all going to need to keep an eye on this kid—she’s destined for greatness!

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County will award a grant in Savannah’s name to All Children’s Hospital Foundation, the hospital that performed the urgent open-heart surgery that saved her brother’s life.

We can’t stop smiling about this awesome kid! We want to hear more—nominations for November 2020’s Incredible Kid are now open. Visit sarasotamagazine.com/incrediblekids for more information.