Pay it forward! Baby Khloe❤️

Yesterday, it was brought to my attention that a friend just recently found out her unborn baby girl has a heart defect. While reading her status update, I found myself remembering that same fateful day one year ago. I couldn't help but get emotional after reading all the comments people were posting. I've been there. I felt exactly how she felt and there was nothing I could do. I couldn't hug her, I couldn't say anything to make her less worried but I can help take off some of the burden a hospital stay will have on a family. 

Her full name is Khloe Lorraine Hettesheimer, expected delivery date is June 6th and she has an AV Canal Defect, (hole in her heart) but they will not get the diagnosis of whether it is a Partial defect or a Complete defect until after birth.

Sarah and her family are expected to be staying in the hospital with baby Khloe for surgery. You all know how helpful all the donations were to help our 5m stay with baby Eli. 

We are asking that you take $10 out of your wallet and buy one gift card. Food, gas, anything will help. I remember getting these very same things in the mail from all of Eli's supporters and just thanking god that someone was so kind enough to do this for our family. What a blessing it was to not have to worry about what meal we were going to eat or how much gas we had to get back and forth to the hospital. 

Please consider helping this family, as you all did for ours. 

All gift cards can be sent to the following address: 

Sarah Hettesheimer 

3115 Urwiler Ave 

Cincinnati, OH 45211

God Bless you all 

Xoxo

Kelcie 

Fundraisers

Over the past year, since finding out about Eli's diagnosis we've had a handful of Fundraisers and one benefit. I wanted to write a post explaining why we do these things and recognize those who have taken the time to organize and support us during this time. 

(If I have forgotten someone please email me and let me know, I did not forget you on purpose, it's been a busy year) 

Tshirts, wristbands, Car decals, ornaments-Kelcie 

Bake sale-Chelsey Richardson 

Flash mob Eli-Alicia Courtney 

Photo shoot-krisandra 

Eli's HLHS journey Benefit-kleckner and Hensley family and many more 

Pampered Chef-Emma Newman 

Zumba for Eli-Jen Clendenning, Lindsay Kinsinger, Ashley Dawson

Lapel elementary-Mrs Sturgeon 

Rummage sale-Knepp & Washmuth family 

Popcorn palace-Kelcie 

Tshirt Donate Life-Booster site  

Lawrenceburg High School Basketball program-Brad Cutter

Donations-many many many people have donated to Eli's fundraising page. We are so appreciative for what you've done in honor of our baby boy. Because of you we have not had to pay for any of Eli's medical needs out of pocket. 

Eli is covered under my insurance through work. He was covered by a secondary insurance Medicaid but in January they dropped Eli due to having too much of this fundraising money in his bank account. They consider this to be an asset to Eli and determined he didn't need medical coverage anymore. Now this coverage picked up anything that my insurance did not cover. So you can imagine how vital this is to our family. For example, 2 of Eli's rejection medications that he well need for the rest of his life, were $1035 for one refill. Eli is on 12 medications. You do the math. We have reapplied for this coverage and are currently waiting for an answer. Until then, we are having to pay for Eli's special formula and things until the coverage can be picked up again. Eli is on a special formula to help him grow grow grow and keep up with his age and curve scale. 

We have also had to have some appointments and medical necessities outside of Eli's transplant. He has vision problems and will need a helmet to correct the shape of his head due to laying immobile for 5 months. Eli's helmet cost over $3600. Because of you, we could pay for that. Without the Fundraisers and benefit, Eli would have to live with a misshapen head and you can only imagine the pain and suffering he would endure later in life. 

Thanks to all of you we were able to pay for this with all of the money that was donated and raised from the above events. We are so very appreciative for what you have done and couldn't have gotten this far without all of your support.

So when you see me posting a new link for Eli, there's a rhyme and a reason to every fundraiser, every donation, goes to help our little boy live his life and keep taking the medications to keep his new heart beating. 

God Bless you all.