Valentine Party

On Monday, February 14, Mended Little Hearts held our 1st Annual Valentine Party to raise awareness for congenital heart defects. We spent a lot of time working on this event to pull everything together. In the end, it was a huge success and we are really happy with how it all turned out.

The event was held at the Sierra Health Foundation. This is an organization that provides a venue to organizations that have a non-profit status and are health-related. This was a huge benefit for us as we did not have enough money to rent a facility. We also received a sponsorship from the Children's Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. These sponsorships of money and in-kind donations were what made this event possible! We also had some volunteer's from Kohl's department store help out with sign in and crafts.

We had over 120 people come through, more than 25 people donate blood and lots of children tour the ambulance brought by American Medical Response. Despite our attempts to get media attention and have them cover the story, the only people that came out were from Sacramento Magazine. We were happy to have them there to take pictures and report about our party. I believe the article is going to in the April issue.


The BloodSource Bloodmobile

The wonderful crew from American Medical Response: Will & Hailey. They were awesome!



Kyler and his friend Brayden playing in the ambulance (Brayden is pretending to be scared!)


Party-goers enjoyed chili and cornbread. For the kids, there were a lot of yummy options including quesadillas, applesauce cups, jello cups, PB&J sandwiches cut into heart shapes and popcorn. And for dessert, lots of adorable valentine-theme decorated cupcakes. It was such a treat!

All the delicious food

Yummy cupcakes!


I am so happy everything went so well and I am also glad it is over. I was completely exhausted by the end of the night! Thank you to everyone who made this event happen and especially those who came out and gave blood. What a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day!

Me with Gina & Andrea

Kyler putting together his picture frame craft

The finished product

Camp Taylor Fundraiser

On Saturday, February 14, Greg and I attended a fundraiser for Camp Taylor. This is a camp for children with congenital heart defects provided free of charge. You can find out more about their organization by clicking here.

The silent auction, dinner and live auction were held at the Doubletree in Modesto. We were lucky enough to have a friend who was willing to watch out children for the night so we could attend. We got to dress up and enjoy an evening out with a few other families from our Mended Little Hearts support group. However, the majority of the people in attendance at the fundraiser were not parents of children with CHD. That makes sense since we are not the ones with deep pockets. We are the ones with lots of medical bills.

On the silent auction we bid on a weekend getaway but didn't win. We bought some raffle tickets for an Apple iPad but didn't win that either. The live auction was a little high-priced for our budget but we did help purchase a popcorn machine for the camp itself. So we did contribute to the money raised for the camp.

For families with younger children with CHDs, there is a family camp to go to. We have not attended, but from what I understand, it is a weekend where your family is put up in a hotel and there are activities for everyone. It often includes a day spent at Great America Amusement Park as well. As kids get older, they are able to attend a week-long camp on their own. Here they are surrounded by other children with CHDs who have similar problems such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and matching scars. This is a place where everyone fits in.

The camp has grown incredibly since its start and provides such a wonderful opportunity for kids with CHD. The fundraiser was a fun evening and a great way to support the program. We hope to attend Camp Taylor Family Camp in the next couple years.

All dressed up and ready to go!

This was our Mended Little Hearts table at the fundraiser: Gina, Mike, Dan, Andrea, Kendra, Paul, Greg & Me

CHD Awareness Week: February 7-14

Many of you may know that Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is February 7-14. Mended Little Hearts was able to have the City of Sacramento make this proclamation. We have been working hard to find ways to spread awareness in our community. We took the grass roots approach. Some of the members of MLH created flyers to to out to all the students/parents in the school where their children attend. In addition, we planned our 1st annual Valentine's Party for February 14. The event is open to the community and we are providing food, crafts for the kids, information about CHDs, an ambulance for kids to tour, and BloodSource will be there for a blood drive. Caden received many units of blood during his surgery as well as post-operatively as well so I realize the importance of people donating blood!

In addition, I want to post a few facts about CHD's as well as the source of the information, some of them I took from another friend's blog (thank you Victoria!). :)

Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 birth defect. ~ March of Dimes

Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths. ~ March of Dimes

About 1 out of every 100 babies are born each year with some type of Congenital Heart Defect. (approx. 40,000/year) ~ Children’s Heart Foundation

Every 15 minutes a child is born with a congenital heart defect. ~ American Heart Association

Up to 1.3 million Americans have congenital heart disease. ~ American Heart Association

Nearly twice as many children die from Congenital Heart Defects in the United States each year as from all forms of childhood cancers combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for CHD. ~ Children’s Heart Foundation

This year approximately 4,000 babies will not live to see their first birthday because of Congenital Heart Defects. ~ Children’s Heart Foundation

The cost for inpatient surgery to repair Congenital Heart Defects exceeds $2.2 billion a year. ~ Children’s Heart Foundation

Of every dollar the government spends on medical funding only a fraction of a penny is directed toward Congenital Heart Defect research. ~ Children’s Heart Foundation

Although some babies will be diagnosed during gestation or at birth, sometimes the diagnosis is not made until days, weeks, months, or even years after. In some cases, CHD is not detected until adolescence or adulthood. ~ March of Dimes

It is a proven fact that the earlier CHD is detected and treated, it is more likely the affected child will survive and have less long term health complications. ~ March of Dimes

If you would like more information or have a child with a CHD, please check out our website: www.sacramento.mendedlittlehearts.net. There is information about Mended Little Hearts, resources, and details about our monthly meetings and activities. Please help spread the awareness about the #1 birth defect!

This is a picture of Caden taken the day of his heart surgery at 15 days old.

Valentine's Party

For those of my friends in the Sacramento area, please come join us for the Mended Little Hearts Valentine Party on Monday, February 14 at the Sierra Health Foundation. The address is 1321 Garden Hwy, Sacramento, CA 94841. It is an open house so come by anytime between 3-7 pm.

There will be fun heart crafts for the kids, yummy food, an ambulance for the kids to tour, and BloodSource will be there with their bloodmobile accepting blood donations. If you can donate blood, this is a wonderful way to give back to the community. Most of our heart children received blood during their surgeries and this is a great way to fill up the banks again.

6-Month Cardiac Check-Up

On Tuesday, Caden had his 6-month cardiac check-up. We didn't have an echo scheduled, it was only an office visit. Dr. Van Gundy did an exam, checked him out, and listened thoroughly to his heart and lungs. He declared him to be doing great and didn't want to have an echo done at this time. Yay! He said to follow up again in 6 months and we would do an echo then, but he is very happy with how well Caden is doing. The only mild concern is that Caden hasn't really grown in the last 6 months. He is the same height/weight as he was in August. He is otherwise healthy and his activity level has increased drastically now that he is walking everywhere. So I am happy he's not losing weight. We will continue to monitor him and see how things progress.

With the nurse having his blood pressure taken

Getting checked out by Dr. Van Gundy


Caden was so funny at the office. He is usually terrified of any medical personnel. However, he warmed right up to the nurse and was playing games with her and laughing when she tickled him. He allowed her to take his blood pressure and pulse without hardly a complaint at all. It was great! When the doctor came in, he was slightly more reserved at first, but then after awhile he started warming up to him as well. He was being quite the character. I love to see him share his personality with everyone. For so long he has shown it only to us at home and is terrified of everyone else. But he seems to be outgrowing that some which is great.

His appointment was on the day we delivered the thank you basket from Mended Little Hearts. It was funny because as soon as I put the basket down on the desk, Caden started asking for the balloon that was attached to it. The receptionist took the basket to show Dr. Van Gundy and then she brought the balloon back out for Caden. He was happy to have it and play with it until after out appointment and it was time to leave. Then I made him give it back to the cardiologist. He seemed okay with letting it go at that point. :)

Valentine's Baskets

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is February 7-14. Mended Little Hearts had a meeting on Monday night to put Valentine's baskets together for our local cardiologists, surgeons and PICU staff. We each signed up to provide various goodies such as cookies, brownies, muffins, chocolate-dipped pretzels and more.

This is the second year I have participated in this project. These people do so much for our kids and if it weren't for them, most of our children with CHDs would not be here today. The timing worked out perfectly for us to take one of the baskets to our cardiologist, Dr. Van Gundy because Caden had his 6-month check-up today. The office staff thoroughly appreciated the gift and dug right into the treats!

It was pretty funny because Caden saw the balloon attached to the basket and he decided he wanted it for himself. So after Dr. Van Gundy had a chance to look at it, the receptionist took the balloon off and gave it to Caden. He kept it until it was time for us to leave, then we gave it back to Dr. Van Gundy since it was meant for him!

What a simple way to make the staff of the cardiology offices feel appreciated. I love belonging to Mended Little Hearts and being able to participate in activities like this.

Me with Andrea, the coordinator for Mended Little Hearts

One of the baskets ready to go

All 8 baskets!

The wonderful group of Mended Little Hearts members who helped pull this together

Dr. Van Gundy and his office staff receiving their basket :)

More Warm Water Therapy

Sorry for all the posts recently about warm water therapy. However, Caden is finally tolerating being in the water. In the beginning, he used to just scream hysterically the whole time so I had to be in the water with him. At first he would only allow me to hold him. Slowly he allowed Erik to hold him and touch him but I still had to be in the water in close proximity to him.

But as things have progressed, he is getting better with that also. A couple weeks ago he had his first full 50-minute session in the water without me with him. He tolerated it but didn't love it. He fussed off and on. But this last week, for the first time, Caden got in the water with Erik, cried for about 30 seconds, then was happy the rest of the session. He still wanted me nearby on the edge of the pool. But he is definitely building trust with Erik which is great! I am really happy with how he is doing. So here is yet another video of him in the water. :)

It's My Birthday & I'll do What I Want to!

On my birthday (February 1) I spent the morning in therapies with Caden (OT and speech). Then, I went to lunch at the Spaghetti Factory with two of my most amazing, wonderful friends: Shirley & Sharon! It was so wonderful to have a nice, long, relaxing lunch without having to rush. These ladies are such a blessing in my life and I am so lucky to have them!

My awesome friends, Shirley & Sharon - Love you guys!


That afternoon, I spent with my boys at home. Then, that night when Greg came home from work, we went and got take-out from Chipotle and took it to Baskin Robbins. We ate there, along with our ice cream. Then we headed to the drive-in movie theater to watch No Strings Attached.

Greg eating Chipotle at Baskin Robbins

Me with my burrito at Baskin Robbins

At the drive-in :)


The next day I took Kyler with me to get my free scoop of ice cream from Baskin Robbins and shared with him. It was a special mother/son treat. And, to top things off, Caden's nurse brought me some gorgeous flowers!

Sharing ice cream with my boy!

Gorgeous flowers from Caden's nurse


I am blessed to be surrounded by wonderful people. Here's to another year! May it be filled with blessings as well.