November 2023 Newsletter

by | Nov 17, 2023 | News | 0 comments

 
REMEMBERING CARLOS
November is a particularly tough month for me. November 12th is when Carlos left us. These are the last pictures I have of him from that week and his surgery day. We were filled with so much hope that the surgery would bring him home after many months living in the hospital. I think of how much I didn’t know about his condition, but maybe it was that I didn’t want to know how bad it really was for him. Sometimes we hear only what we can handle. He is my motivation and reason why I started Hearts Aligned.
Over the past two years of meeting families that are living with their critically ill child and making huge sacrifices, I still feel hopeful. There is so much love in their households for their child, for their children. It is hope that keeps us going and moving forward each and every day. It is hope that helps us cope with the unimaginable. 
 
To all of our supporters, you bring that hope to our community with your gifts and with your caring. I am grateful for the opportunity to help the many families through Hearts Aligned and I am grateful for all of you that have helped us bring hope to these families. Thank you! 
Gratefully yours,
Vivian Solodkin
Founder & Executive Director
COMMUNITY
We are honored to share that Hearts Aligned was named the Santa Barbara Young Professionals Club Nonprofit of the Year at their October mixer. We were also surprised to have been presented with a check for $5,000! Thank you to the SBYPC for recognizing our work and commitment to making families stronger when they are facing the challenges of caring for a critically ill child.
 
November is a busy month with Thanksgiving, #GIVINGTUESDAY and preparing our families for the end of the year. We are grateful for the community that has supported us, grateful for the families we seek to help, and grateful to our community partners who have supported us in our mission. We are overwhelmed to be giving back to critically ill children and their families.
We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 
NOVEMBER IS PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH
The March of Dimes reports that 1 in 10 babies in the US is born preterm. A premature baby is defined as being born before 37 weeks gestation; 40 weeks is considered full-term. The youngest newborn we have served was born at 22 weeks gestation and the average is 30 weeks (2-1/2 months early). These fragile babies typically have underdeveloped lungs, problems feeding because they are so small, they may have Retinopathy of Prematurity, a condition that can cause blindness if not taken care of with eye surgery, and there may be other issues associated with a baby being born very early. Over 35% of the children we serve at Hearts Aligned have been born preterm.
 
The challenge for our families, our moms and dads, is they are often not prepared to have a baby 2 months before their due date. They may have been planning to take leave upon the birth of their child but when their baby is born early, they can be out of work for months. When their baby is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, they are by their side every single day. This gets more challenging when there are siblings at home and the baby is in a hospital not located in the city where they live. 
 
Hearts Aligned helps these families with rental assistance, gas cards, food vouchers, vehicle expenses, baby supplies and referrals to other agencies to help them through a stressful and traumatic time. No parent wants to go home without their baby and worry how they are going to pay the rent or pay for gas to get to the hospital every day for months on end.
NOVEMBER IS ALSO DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH
Twenty percent (20%) of the children we have served were hospitalized with diabetic ketoacidosis with ages ranging from 3 to 18 years old.
 
Diabetes is a condition in which the body can’t make enough insulin, or can’t use insulin normally. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. The body’s immune system damages the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps sugar (glucose) in the blood get into cells of the body to be used as fuel. When glucose can’t enter the cells, it builds up in the blood. This is called high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar can cause problems throughout the body. It can damage blood vessels and nerves. It can also harm the eyes, kidneys, and heart.
 
Type 1 diabetes is a long-term (chronic) condition for which there is no cure. It may start at any age. Insulin from the pancreas must be replaced with insulin injections or an insulin pump.
 
One of the biggest requests Hearts Aligned receives from families of diabetic children are for grocery cards as their child’s diet requires healthier food which is often more expensive.
Friday, February 9, 2024
from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Cabrillo Arts Pavilion
Santa Barbara
Mark your calendars for our 2nd Annual Hearts to Hearts Valentine’s Luncheon! We are beginning the planning process to bring you an amazing afternoon. We will be honoring Cottage Health for their years of service to our community and their work as a Hearts Aligned partner. 
We thank the following sponsors who have committed so far: 
Ann Towbes
Casa Dorinda
Cottage Health
Easy Lift Transportation
Mark & Dee Nussmeier
Pacific Premier Bank/ Bibi Moezzi
Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians
Sunstone Winery, Wine sponsor
Tri-Counties Make-A-Wish, Invitations sponsor
      
Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are available.
If you have an item to donate for our silent auction,
contact Vivian at 805-570-3155
 More information about Sponsorships and tickets can be found here:
Holiday Meals for Families of
Critically and Chronically Ill Children
November 28, 2023 is #GIVINGTUESDAY!
 
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. This holiday season we need your help to bring a meal to 50 families with a critically or chronically ill child. The average annual salary of the families we serve is $29,000 and many would benefit knowing there is money for a special meal.
 
Starting TODAY you can provide a holiday meal for a family in need by donating $25 (supports 1 family), $50 (2 families) or any amount to support them this holiday season. We will be purchasing grocery gift cards and delivering them in December.
 
Please consider donating to Hearts Aligned to help the many families that have a critically ill child and make a difference in our community.
You can donate to our holiday drive here.
Hearts Aligned Inc. | 805-570-3155 | www.heartsaligned.org

 

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