Hello From Heeth’s Mom,

Today, we had the honor of returning for a visit to Heeth’s former floor, 6W at Boston Children’s Hospital to thank all the incredible nurses for all they have done for Heeth and our family during Nurse Appreciation Month!  This visit also marks the 2nd annual 6W donation drive Heeth and our family have organized to give back and try to help the patients and their families that are going through some of the toughest moments, weeks, months of their lives.  Our hope is to help provide some positive energy and light.  After all, our nurses, doctors, family, and friends continued to have “Hope For Heeth.”   Heeth and our family want to keep giving hope for all the strong children fighting for their health on 6W.

It is with great excitement that I tell you that Heeth met his goal of filling our trunk with donations!  Thank you to all of our family and friends that donated and know how important this gesture is for Heeth.  During Heeth’s treatment, he would meet another child from time to time, and this gave him a purpose: to help provide joy for that child.  He would ask us to get special drinks or snacks for the child, he would make crafts, or letters/pictures.  Without even knowing it, these gestures would also help Heeth’s recovery because he would get his lines in order and get out of bed to walk to deliver these gifts.  Sometimes a nurse in the ICU would have to follow closely behind in a wheelchair, but Heeth pushed on.

Sometimes after a major event, the impact of the event seems to simmer out with time. Although just over a year has gone by, my gratitude and love for the team caring for Heeth has just continued to grow.  I am thankful for every single moment I have with him (and Keene,) just simple things I didn’t even notice before all of this: giving him a kiss goodnight, helping him pick out his outfits, debating how many vegetables he needs to eat at dinner: these moments are gifts.  I find myself often thinking: when will I feel normal again?  When will I feel like myself again?  I feel uncontrollably sad at times, thinking of all my kids had to go through.  I feel sad that my dad died while my son was critically ill.  These thoughts bring hurt and sadness to me, so I am working through them and acknowledging the huge amount we have to be grateful for in life.  

In the past few weeks I have come to realize that I have changed and this is who I am now: I am grateful knowing how strong my two children are, I am grateful for the people who supported us and continue to support us, I am grateful for the kindness I was shown the past few years, I am grateful for the wonderful doctors and nurses we have met.  I am grateful my family was finally able to give my grandma, who is 102, a hug after all the praying she has done for us.  I am grateful that Heeth finds joy in his new cooking class and getting to see his wide smile when he served us “the best meal ever” last week according to his sister.  

We just came in from bringing down a huge donation to 6W from all of you that generously supported Heeth’s annual donation drive and we appreciate you taking the time to help show kindness to the patients on 6W.  This helps to give the patients and families positive love and hope.  It was so nice to be able to see some of our old team in person: they really do feel like family to us, and understand the struggles we have gone through and the joy we feel being where we are today.

I hope you all are doing well and that we will continue to be able to update you with happy and hopeful stories from our family.

HUGE HUGS FROM HEETH!

With Love,

Heeth’s Mom

Successful Donation Drive: Thank you from our 6W Family!

A long overdue visit to PIttsburgh: here with Great Grandma Nan:)

Chef BoyarHeeth with his first delicious meal after cooking class!