Just a few short weeks after Big Brother was born, another baby boy from the same small town came into the world, only their beginnings would be nothing alike.
While Big Brother was laid on my chest, in our bedroom, rosy and pink, comforted by his mama, Baby O was rushed to Sick Kids Hospital with heart failure
That summer I became friends with one of my neighbours who would tell me stories of her best friend Shelley and her new baby, who had just had a heart transplant before he was even a month old. I would hold Big Brother just a little closer and think of that poor Mother.
Before the end of the year, not only had I met Shelley and heard her stories first hand, but she was now one of my best friends too and Baby O would soon be Big Brother’s best buddy!
Through Shelley, I met Joanna and her little girl Ryley. Ryley also had a heart transplant before her first birthday due to heart failure and just celebrated her Fifth Heart Anniversary.
Did you know that heart transplant kids celebrate their ‘Heart Day’? I cannot think of a better reason for a party!!
So we have had the distinct pleasure of watching Baby O grow and thrive, have setbacks and struggles, but always overcome.
We have met Ryley and her family and saw the love, laughter and smiley faces.
We have been blessed to witness the Miracle.
Someday I hope that I will be able to share with you the whole stories of Little O and Ryley with Guest Posts from their moms. These women are strong. They are fighters. They have endured heartache that no mama should bear and they do it all for their babies. Their Miracles. Their Heros.
This is what I want to tell you today…..
February 14th, today, is CHD Awareness Day
Congenitive Heart Defects affect almost 1 in every 100 newborns.
In honour of my friends O and Ryley, register today to be an organ and tissue donor.
Signing a donor card is a start, but not enough. You need to register with your province and you need to talk to your family about the decision you’ve made to save a life.
One donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance as many as 75 more.
But out of every million Canadians only 15 are organ donors.
Sad.
* Leave a Legacy*
I put together the following slide show to share with you the beautiful faces behind the hearts. Please take a look.
This is O’s story. This is Ryley’s story.
They would not be here today if someone didn’t give the consent to donate those little hearts.
*Give the Gift of Life*
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