Balloons in heaven

This Sunday, Mother's Day, we are will be sharing our day with another Mother. On November 11, 2013, a little boy, Ollie was born. He was born with hope, fight and will to inspire others. I met his amazing parents at Children's Hospital, and honored to call them friends. We will be celebrating Ollie's Birthday and filling the sky with a balloon release.

Ollie has been residing in CHP's CICU for 6 months now. He has spent his entire life in the hospital, too sick to come home, diagnosed with Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return, a Congenital Heart Defect. His parents have sought every avenue for help yet they have received news that there is nothing more the Doctors can do for Ollie, and they will be "letting him go" on Monday. 

People have spoken of this bond children have with other Congenital Heart Defect children. I have seen it first hand, as my Gregory has taken a liking and interest to Jameson, a local boy who underwent a transplant. I have never really have seen Gregory so affected about anything before. Gregory and Ollie shared a wall at CHP in the same wing, they share a birthday, the share the fact that they both fight Congenital Heart Defects. There are no other words but he is just mad and sad, to the point of tears. Furious that Ollie is losing his battle, sad to know he will pass; all the same he thinks that Ollie is going to be his CHD Guardian Angel. Most teens would not have such a sincere overwhelming  feeling of loss, but Gregory expressed to me that he relives the night when he was in the hospital and Ollie was having a terrible night.  Gregory was to be getting transferred to step down but there was no time on the unit that particular night; so we sat quietly in our room hoping an praying the little warrior next door would make it through the night. The doctors never gave up, neither did Ollie.... Gregory in his youthful mind and mended but spirited heart wants that once again. He wants a cure for CHDs and a cure for Ollie. We all do. 

On Sunday, Ollie's  6 month Birthday and Mothers Day, we will share a moment with a group of extended Congenital Heart Defect families to celebrate Ollie's life, his fight, his fearless battle, his inspiration for people to love deeply.  We are going to support his Mother, on her first Mother's Day... a very difficult day for her knowing what's to come. We are going to fill the skies with beautiful balloons and let them float into heaven, where they will be waiting for Ollie when he gains his wings.