One Life. One Heart. A Legacy That Continues to Change Lives.
Honoring Femi's Legacy
On August 26, 2019, our beloved daughter, Oluwafemi Samuel Jennifer "Femi" Tevoedjre, entered into the presence of the Lord after a courageous journey with heart failure and cardiomyopathy.
She was only 15 years old.
Although her life was far too short, Femi left behind a legacy of extraordinary faith, compassion, generosity, and servant leadership that continues to inspire thousands of people around the world.
Born on March 31, 2003, in the Republic of Benin, Femi immigrated to the United States with her family in 2007. At the age of ten, she was diagnosed with severe heart failure and underwent a life-saving heart transplant at Children's Nebraska.
Despite the many challenges she faced, Femi never allowed her illness to define her life. Instead, she focused on bringing hope to others.
While hospitalized, she regularly visited younger patients to encourage them, comforted anxious families so parents could rest, and even asked whether she could donate her own blood to help another child battling leukemia.
A Heart Without Borders: Femi’s Global Vision
Her remarkable compassion and servant's heart led Children's Nebraska to recognize her as a Children's Ambassador.
Yet Femi's greatest dream reached far beyond herself.
Knowing that many children in her homeland did not have access to specialized cardiac care, she dreamed of becoming a pediatric cardiac surgeon. She wanted to build a children's heart hospital in Benin so that no child would ever lose the opportunity to receive life-saving treatment simply because of where they were born.
With determination beyond her years, Femi wrote a heartfelt letter to her parents and to her cardiology team requesting permission to return to Benin. By God's grace, and through the sacrifices of her family and the support of her medical team, her dream became reality.
In the summer of 2018, Femi returned to West Africa, visiting Benin, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. That journey strengthened her love for Africa and deepened her vision of serving children and families across the continent.
Even in death, Femi continued to give.
Even in death, Femi continued to give.
As an organ donor, her final act of generosity brought hope and healing to others, reflecting the selfless way she had lived every day of her life.
In recognition of her extraordinary legacy, Femi was posthumously honored with the Hero in the Heartland Award by the American Red Cross in 2023 and received additional recognition from Nebraska's organ and tissue donation community for her life-saving gift of organ donation.
One year after her passing, on August 26, 2020, Femi's family established Femi's Heart Foundation to ensure that her vision would continue to live on.
Femi's Legacy: Empowering Lives Around the World
Today, the Foundation carries forward Femi's dream by advancing Hope, Health, and Education through compassionate service, humanitarian outreach, youth leadership, mental health advocacy, medical missions, scholarships, blood donation initiatives, and sustainable international partnerships.
Honoring Femi's Legacy
One Life. One Heart. A Legacy That Continues to Change Lives.
On August 26, 2019, our beloved daughter, Oluwafemi Samuel Jennifer "Femi" Tevoedjre, entered into the presence of the Lord after a courageous journey with heart failure and cardiomyopathy.
She was only 15 years old.
Although her life was far too short, Femi left behind a legacy of extraordinary faith, compassion, generosity, and servant leadership that continues to inspire thousands of people around the world.
Born on March 31, 2003, in the Republic of Benin, Femi immigrated to the United States with her family in 2007. At the age of ten, she was diagnosed with severe heart failure and underwent a life-saving heart transplant at Children's Nebraska.
Despite the many challenges she faced, Femi never allowed her illness to define her life. Instead, she focused on bringing hope to others.
While hospitalized, she regularly visited younger patients to encourage them, comforted anxious families so parents could rest, and even asked whether she could donate her own blood to help another child battling leukemia.
A Heart Without Borders: Femi’s Global Vision
Her remarkable compassion and servant's heart led Children's Nebraska to recognize her as a Children's Ambassador.
Yet Femi's greatest dream reached far beyond herself.
Knowing that many children in her homeland did not have access to specialized cardiac care, she dreamed of becoming a pediatric cardiac surgeon. She wanted to build a children's heart hospital in Benin so that no child would ever lose the opportunity to receive life-saving treatment simply because of where they were born.
With determination beyond her years, Femi wrote a heartfelt letter to her parents and to her cardiology team requesting permission to return to Benin. By God's grace, and through the sacrifices of her family and the support of her medical team, her dream became reality.
In the summer of 2018, Femi returned to West Africa, visiting Benin, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. That journey strengthened her love for Africa and deepened her vision of serving children and families across the continent.
Even in death, Femi continued to give.
Even in death, Femi continued to give.
As an organ donor, her final act of generosity brought hope and healing to others, reflecting the selfless way she had lived every day of her life.
In recognition of her extraordinary legacy, Femi was posthumously honored with the Hero in the Heartland Award by the American Red Cross in 2023 and received additional recognition from Nebraska's organ and tissue donation community for her life-saving gift of organ donation.
One year after her passing, on August 26, 2020, Femi's family established Femi's Heart Foundation to ensure that her vision would continue to live on.
Femi's Legacy: Empowering Lives Around the World
Today, the Foundation carries forward Femi's dream by advancing Hope, Health, and Education through compassionate service, humanitarian outreach, youth leadership, mental health advocacy, medical missions, scholarships, blood donation initiatives, and sustainable international partnerships.
Femi's Dream in Action: Bringing World-Class Care to Benin
One of the Foundation's most significant initiatives is the development of the Madengbé–Zaffé Maternal, Pediatric, Neonatal & Cardiology Health Center in Glazoué, Benin—a project that reflects Femi's dream of expanding access to quality healthcare for children and families who need it most.
Enduring Hope, Eternal Legacy
Every scholarship awarded…
Every child encouraged…
Every family supported…
Every life touched…
Every partnership formed…
Every community strengthened…
Is part of Femi's continuing legacy.
Her story reminds us that true greatness is not measured by the number of years we live, but by the love we share, the lives we touch, and the hope we leave behind.
Femi's Legacy Lives On
Today, Femi's Heart Foundation serves as a living testimony that God can transform unimaginable loss into a mission that brings healing, restores hope, and changes lives across generations.
Her heart continues to beat through every act of compassion.
Her faith continues to inspire every child we serve.
Her dream continues to shape every life we touch.
And her legacy continues to remind us that one life—lived with extraordinary love—can change the world.
Love, Compassion, Hope: The Journey Continues
"Love gave her purpose. Compassion became her legacy. Hope continues through every life we serve."