Other Heart Related Groups/Blogs

Along with Annabelle Baskets, we are members of Palmetto Hearts, a support group in SC for Heart Families.

There are also some Heart Moms that have blogs that I keep up with:
Mason
Logan
Zeb

Please read their stories and help raise awareness!

Hope for BRAVEHearts

After Lorelei was born, I felt I needed to do SOMETHING to raise awareness to CHD's. When Shannon had Derrick she also felt this way and we decided to start with making baskets for the kids at MUSC. The baskets were for all the kids whether they are in PCICU or 8D, the step down unit. We then decided that we would also raise money and give it to the MUSC Research Program.

We have a Pancake Breakfast every year as well as a Golf Tournament to raise this money. Hope for BRAVEHearts also makes blankets for the kids at Christmas and bring them down to them. We also partner with Texas Roadhouse and serve dinner to the families at the Ronald McDonald House in Charleston. That is one of my favorite things to do.

So far we have raised over $35,000 for the research program at MUSC and they are very supportive of us as well! 

BRAVEHeart Baskets include: a stuffed animal, a cup, socks, crayons and a variety of toys and games, books, and other small items. We can and will ship to other states other than SC.

Hope for BRAVEHearts is always looking for volunteers and suggestions so please let us know!

Check out our website: www.hopeforbravehearts.org

Shannon and Derrick

Shannon and I worked together for several years before she got married and started teaching. We didn't see each other for a while but then I found out she was pregnant and that at her 20 week ultrasound they found out that Derrick had a CHD. I contacted her and we talk all the time now, since we have started Hope for BRAVEHearts (I will get to that in another post!).

Derrick is the cutest little thing and is 1 year and 2 days younger than Lorelei. He is so full of life and has had several procedures and 2 open heart surgeries and will have a third this spring.

This is D when he was a baby and his lips are green because I gave him a green sucker. :o) To read more about D, click here.

Mandy and Evie

I met Mandy when she came into my workplace and I found out that her daughter, Evie, had a CHD. We exchanged blog sites and it started from there! Our daughters have become friends and we miss them terribly. They have moved to Thailand and are doing God's work over there.

Mandy has not only become my friend but also like my sister. We can share what our children have been through and she has taught me a lot about my faith! I am so glad that He placed her in my path!

These two truly are our miracles! Princess Evie and Princess Lorelei!

To read Evie's story, click here.

Rebecca and Annabelle

We met Rebecca a few days after Lorelei's first surgery at MUSC. Annabelle passed the month before from HLHS, a CHD. Rebecca started making Annabelle Baskets for the babies in the PCICU in memory of Annabelle.

Lorelei was the first recipient of an Annabelle Basket. It was super cute. There was a blanket, cute socks, a rattle and of course, a hairbow! Rebecca is an amazing woman and I am glad to call her a friend. Thank you for all you have done!

Please read Annabelle's story here.
If you would like to know how to help with Annabelle Baskets, click here.

Lorelei's Heart Story

Lorelei was born on April 18, 2008 via c-section. All was fine until her pediatrician heard a murmur and called for and ECHO. They found that she had a hole in her heart (VSD) and her aortic arch was "interrupted". Sunday night she was flown to MUSC and we met up with her Monday afternoon in PCICU.  She was so tiny and was not able to eat due to some wires and tubes in her belly button. Thursday morning she had her first surgery to repair the hole in her heart and fix her interrupted aortic arch.
She came home 2 weeks later after us having to learn how to feed her (she threw up A LOT). She was a fun baby that never slept and had reflux. When she was 17 months old, she had to have a second surgery to fix some aortic stenosis that was happening because of some tissue that was growing under her aortic valve. She recovered quickly, she had her surgery on a Monday and was home that Friday. She still didn't sleep and really had fun.
She is still growing and is almost as tall as I am. (I am not really that tall, 4'11"). Now at almost 5 years old, I relive this story like it is yesterday. She will have to have a third surgery, which is a repeat of her second surgery. It will be within the next 2 years. Lorelei will be starting kindergarten in the fall and is able to live like any other kid. Here are some pics that document her life.