100 balloons, 100 CHD warriors gone too soon

As you probably know, we are planning on having a balloon release to wrap up the day's events for "Art for the Heart." Originally, I had my blinders on and was just thinking of Maverick... Ask any parent who has lost a child what is most important to them and they'll tell you - it's that their child is not forgotten. Then I started thinking... The stories of so many others have touched my heart this year. So many others heard the earth-shattering words, "Your baby has a heart defect." So many others had their babies whisked away shortly after birth to a world of alarms, wires, and tubes. A world so different than the dreams we had for them. Dreams of snuggling them on our shoulders, smelling that wonderful baby smell and feeling their breath on our necks as they drifted off to sleep. So many others had to hand their children off with a last kiss and, "I love you," not knowing what the outcome of such a risky surgery would be. So many others prayed and prayed and prayed as they waited to hear the next update from the operating room. So many others watched, helplessly, as their precious child fought for each minute, each hour, each day - just wishing we could take their place. So many others held the tiny bodies of their little ones as they took their last breath here on this earth. So many others planned funerals and picked out tiny caskets and cemetery lots. So many others hurt, and miss, and cry. For all these other parents, in memory of all our fighters, we will have a balloon release. I have ordered one hundred red, heart-shaped balloons to release. If you have a CHD angel, and would like their name attached to one of our balloons, please post their name, birth date, and angel date to this post. If you are able, we would love to have your support for our fundraiser for the Children's Heart Foundation, however, there is no donation required. I will be adding a button to the side of our blog if you are interested in donating. It's quick and easy and no amount is too small. Together, we can have an impact on the cruel and awful reality of congenital heart defects.