Two Years and Growing Strong!
Two years ago, Hearts Aligned had its first Board of Directors meeting. This new nonprofit formed in May of 2021, and we had a long list of things to do in order to get up and running. By November that year, we had received our first referral from Cottage Hospital.
In 2022, we provided financial assistance to 26 families. When we began this year, we set a goal to serve 50 families as we develop new relationships with other referral sources. I am happy to report that we are on target to meet that goal. To date, we have received 26 referrals from our partners at Cottage Health, Marian Hospital’s Most Vulnerable Pediatric Program and Family Service Agency. We appreciate all they do for our community and are grateful that we can also be of service to the children and families they serve.
About Our Children: The majority of the children (82%) we have supported have had recent hospital stays. 62% are from ages 0-3 years; 13% are from ages 4-12; and 26% are from 13-18 years old. There are a variety of specific diagnoses served that we have classified, as follows: Endocrine/Diabetes 45%, Premature Babies 36%, Cardiovascular issues 4%, Gastrointestinal issues 4%, Neurological/Brain complications 8%, and 4% other, with many of them having multiple diagnoses.
We have established relationships with many organizations that provide complementary services to the services we offer, and we are able to refer our families to them. Thank you for all you do and for your partnership – especially Mother’s Helpers, LEAP, CommUnify, and Independent Living Resource. We know there are other resources that we haven’t connected with yet, but we will.
We appreciate your continued support and we are committed to making a difference in our community!
Thank you all for helping to make a difference in Santa Barbara County. We appreciate you and hope that you will continue to support us this year, and in the years to come.
Vivian Solodkin,
Founder & Executive Director
|
|
Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 5 – 8 pm,
Hearts Aligned will be hosting
ROCK YOUR HEART OUT
A friend and fundraiser featuring The Tearaways!
The Tearaways are a local band that combine the influences of the British Invasion with the California Sound.
The event will be held at The Red Piano,
519 State Street, Santa Barbara.
Sponsorships and tickets can be purchased at
www.heartsaligned.org/rockyourheartout
All proceeds from the event will go towards our
Family Assistance Programs.
|
|
Miguel was an active and joyful 14-year-old boy. He had just started his freshman year of high school when his uncle noticed he was reading something incorrectly and recommended to his mom that he get his eyes checked. During that checkup the eye doctor told mom to take Miguel to the Emergency Room immediately. The ER doctor discovered he had a tumor in his brain and he was immediately transferred to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Miguel needed two procedures to remove the tumor. During one of the procedures, a vein in his eye regrettably tore. Doctors attempted, but failed, to repair it. Miguel had a stroke after the surgery and was fully paralyzed, unable to move any limbs, and unable to speak.
Miguel was sent to Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles for rehabilitation, where he made minimal progress before being transferred to Cottage Hospital, where he stayed for three months. Just before his discharge, mom requested help with a new adjustable bed for him which she found online. Hearts Aligned was able to help with their rent and the purchase of the bed. Over the next few months at home, Miguel improved considerably and began walking with the assistance of a walker, and regaining his ability to speak. Mom requested a recliner to help him with the pain and daily living. Hearts Aligned contacted Independent Living Resource Center and they were able to assist and provide the chair!
But then tragedy struck again, and Miguel had contracted a virus and was back at Cottage Hospital where he stayed for a week before he was transferred to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for a month, and then transferred back to Cottage Hospital. The virus had caused Miguel to return to a state of complete paralysis and unable to speak. He lost all progress and the medical professionals gave him a 5-20% chance of regaining the ability to walk. Miguel remains at Cottage Hospital and Mom has been by Miguel’s side every single day, giving up everything for her son. We are there for Miguel and his mom, too.
You can help Miguel and other families that are also struggling with having a critically ill child by making a donation today.
|
|
Meet Lucy Kohansamad
Board Member at Hearts Aligned
|
Lucy Kohansamad joined the Hearts Aligned Board of Directors in November 2022 and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the organization. Lucy’s passion for Hearts Aligned comes from personal experience. As a very young girl, she had medical issues related to her kidney and bladder. She was in and out of Boston Children’s Floating Hospital from 1963-66, and had several surgeries related to her critical condition. She watched her own family’s stress and struggles during that time.
“I feel that I have a special understanding of what the parents, siblings, and ill child are experiencing”, shares Lucy.
Lucy has lived in Santa Barbara for over 40 years, where she raised her four children (two boys and two girls), who are now 34, 31, 28 and 25. She has volunteered and helped fundraise at their schools (Montecito Union and Bishop Diego High Schools), and has also been a volunteer at Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation for many years.
Lucy works at US Bank as a Senior Portfolio Associate / Officer Analyst. She brings over 25 years of financial experience, investment management, fundraising, networking, and promoting awareness to the Board. She is also part of the Hearts Aligned Financial Committee.
Lucy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Musicology from the University of Miami and, in her free time, plays viola in the Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara. Lucy has played in the SBCC and West Coast Symphony Orchestras as well.
We welcome Lucy as part of our growing Board of Directors.
|
|
|
|
Donate today…
As we partner with more organizations and healthcare professionals, we are getting more and more referrals for children with serious ailments, including but not limited to premature birth, organ failure, and other challenging conditions. We are committed to making our families feel part of a supportive and caring community.
Please join us on this journey!
|
|
Hearts Aligned | 805-570-3155 | www.heartsaligned.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
