In 1980, 5-year-old Brian Littrell was hospitalized in the Pediatrics unit of Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, for treatment of a serious infection of the heart muscle. Brian was born with a Ventricular Septal Defect, a small hole between the left and right ventricles of the heart.

18 years later, now a member of the musical group Backstreet Boys, Brian faced surgery to repair the hole in his heart. Prior to the surgery, Brian and his family came to Saint Joseph Hospital to express their desire to establish a fund that would help children with heart problems. The Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Fund for Kids was created at the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation, Inc.

Brian expressed to his fans worldwide his desire that they might show their concern for him at the time of his surgery by means of gifts to this newly established fund. Throughout 1998 and 1999, the Saint Joseph Foundation received thousands of letters and packages from Brian's fans around the world, many of them with small sacrificial gifts to help other kids.

Also in 1999, an oversight committee was formed to consider the type of program the Brian Littrell Fund should offer to kids. The committee is made up of three physicians, several nurses, and others, including Jackie Littrell, Brian's mother. After months of meetings, research and planning, the program is very close to starting the first session for kids. Physicians on the oversight committee will contact all Pediatricians in Fayette County with information about the parameters of the program and invite them to refer children who meet the profile. Entry into the program will require a medical referral.

The program will offer education, exercise, nutrition and perhaps rehabilitation for children with an established medical need, such as congenital heart problems, or those at risk to develop heart conditions.

The program will consist of 8-week sessions led by nurses, physical therapists, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, and other health professionals. The program coordinator is Ann Jones, M.A., an employee of Saint Joseph Hospital.

There are currently enough funds to get the program underway. Future funding will continue from several sources: gifts from the Littrell family, sales of merchandise such as T-shirts, and direct contributions from the public.