Is this not the cutest owl hat in the world? I love it! It is so bright & cheerful!! I made this adorable little guy for one my classmates, Lisa. I have know Lisa since eighth grade. Lisa is due with her second baby this August. She also has a little angel, Ethan. Sadly, Lisa`s little boy Ethan passed away May 1, 2011. He would have been 1 year old on May 15, 2011. I was absolutely honored when Lisa, who I consider to be an amazingly strong woman, asked me to make the new baby it`s very first hat!
In honor of Ethan, & to help so many other babies out there, I have decided to name this owl hat Ethan`s Hat, and to donate $5 from every Ethan`s Hat sold to the Saskatchewan Children`s Hospital Foundation. And to make Lisa even more amazing, she is matching my donations made from the sales of Ethan`s Hats!!
Saskatchewan really needs this hospital. Currently, parents with sick children have to travel to other provinces, & even to the US to get treatment for their children. They are far away from home, family, & their support systems. Having the Children`s Hospital in Saskatoon would mean so much to these families. There would be far less travelling, less expenses, the list goes on.
I personally know of the need for this hospital. My 7 year old son was born 6 weeks premature, & we were told he would likely need immediate open heart surgery once he was born, which would also include an air transfer to Edmonton`s Stollery Children`s Hospital. Thankfully, after closer monitoring, he did not require surgery, but was in the NICU for eight days. He is still monitored, & may one day yet require heart surgery.
My friend Lisa`s little Ethan had Tetrology of Fallot, a congenital heart defect. He also had a second defect, called pulmonary atresia (meaning he had no pulmonary artery at all which is how the body supplies oxygen to the lungs and back to the rest of the body). Even when he was sick, Ethan was the happiest baby! I loved to looks at his photos, he was always smiling! To treat Ethan`s condition, his mom & dad fought long and hard. They ended up in California! So far away!! His surgery was a success, and we need to bring those surgeries to Saskatchewan. Adding travel plans to the stress of a sick child is just not fair.
A very good friend of mine has an 8 year old daughter with Pulmonary Hypertension. Liv is on oxygen 24 hours a day, because her heart has put so much pressure on her left lung, that it won`t work properly. Every 2 to 3 months, Liv & her mom make the nine hour drive to the Stollery Children`s Hospital for testing. Can you imagine how much easier it would be if they only had to travel to Saskatoon, a mere two hours away?
Those are 2 stories of children who need this hospital. If you`d like to do more, please check out both the Foundation`s webpage, and their Facebook page. Also, as Lisa progresses through her second pregnancy, say a little thought to big brother Ethan in heaven, to watch over his mommy, daddy, & new baby sibling.
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