Posts Tagged ‘hypoplastic left heart syndrome’

You may remember, back in June, I introduced you to my cousin Anna’s new baby brother Ben.

For those who need a refresher or are new to the site, Ben was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome on Father’s Day.  You can learn more about Ben, his family and his journey via his Caring Bridge site.

Since birth Ben has had numerous surgeries and trips to the hospital.  In addition to being one of the cutest little bugs I know (see evidence below), he’s also quite expensive.  Yep. More expensive than normal.

Here’s where we need your help!  There will be a special Ben-efit on Sunday December 6th, 2009 from 1-5 PM at Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay WI.

We are currently in need of donations for a silent auction, raffle and door prizes and monetary donations if you would prefer to go that route. If you would like to donate an item for the silent auction, raffle or door prize, please send an email to me @ annegyounger(at)gmail(dot)com . If you prefer to make a monetary donation to help out Ben and his family, you can use the PayPal Donate Button located below (Just please note in your transaction that is it for the Ben-efit). Any and all help we can get  is a great help.

Thank you from myself and the Willems & Meert Family.

For those of you who have been reading my blog from the beginning, friended me on Facebook, Twitter or traveled over with me from my site The Play Date Maker, you are already aware of the loss of Madeline Spohr.  If you are not aware, just Google her name and you will get one hell of a response or just pop on over the The Play Date Maker and check out the For Maddie page.

Ok, now that you are up to speed let me tell you about the good that has come from the loss of Maddie.  Maddie’s parents, Mike & Heather Spohr, recently started a non-profit organization called Friends of Maddie that supports families of critically ill babies by easing the transition into NICU life and providing an ally until the end of their child’s hospital stay. (Yes, I copied that line directly from Heather Spohr’s site The Spohr’s are Multiplying but am giving credit to her!)

To me, this is a great service that so many families need to help them through this hard time.  Now, I was lucky enough to have had 3 healthy children born without and issues and avoided the NICU.  However, there have been children throughout my family over the years who have been in the NICU and some that were never lucky enough to leave the NICU.  As many of you have read in my past posts, my cousin Anna’s little brother Ben was recently born with Hypo-plastic Left Heart Syndrome or HLHS.  He is still in the NICU at the Children’s Hospital and at this time they are not sure when he will be released.

I have always been a supporter of the March of Dimes and have always donated when I was able. I am now supporting the Friends of Maddie NPO too and am glad to say that I have already made a donation and I hope that you will to.

Please take a moment to look over the Friends of Maddie website and learn more about this great organization.  If you are able to, please make a donation and know that it is going to a help a family who is currently facing one of the hardest things they will ever face.

Thank you!