Next Hershey Hearts Meeting - October

The next meeting will be held on October 19, 2002 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM in Dining Rooms A and B in the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Hershey Hearts signs will be posted in the Cafeteria to mark the rooms. Childcare will again be provided in Dining Rooms C and D. We are planning a special activity for the kids. The format for the October meeting will be similar to previous meetings. A short amount of time will be spent on what we are doing in Hershey Hearts, followed by Cardiology Corner and then time for group sharing in small groups, and of course food and fun. Please plan to attend the October meeting. Everyone is welcome!

A Letter from the President
By Paul Sipe

In the center of a room sits an empty chair surrounded by families from all walks of life. That chair symbolizes the families whose lives have not yet been touched by congenital heart disease. Three years ago that chair at the Hershey Hearts support group meetings was meant for my family. Our unborn daughter had been diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Although my wife and I received the support of family and friends, I wanted to meet other families whose lives had been affected by congenital heart disease. 

My daughter had her first surgery when she was five days old. Two months later I attended my first support group meeting. It was encouraging to meet other families who had already been down the road we were about to travel. I knew that day that I wanted to get involved but I wasn't quite sure how. After attending several board meetings I decided to volunteer my time and fill the vacant Member-at-Large position. My involvement with Hershey Hearts has grown over the years and I now look forward to serving as your president.

I must thank all of the Hershey Hearts Board Members and Visitation Volunteers, past and present, for their unselfish dedication in helping our organization make a difference in the lives of those affected by the uncertainty that having a child with a congenital heart disease can bring. 

Hershey Hearts has provided me with not only the opportunity to meet other families, but also to help promote congenital heart disease awareness. I encourage everyone to become involved and take advantage of what Hershey Hearts has to offer. Together we can have the same impact on someone's life that Hershey Hearts and it's members has had on my life.

Visitation Committee
By Kimberly Yearick

I would personally like to thank April Weaver and Kelly Houtz for the fine job they have done with the Visitation Program!

April and Ken were our family's first visitors from Hershey Hearts, during Levi's 1st open-heart surgery; a pretty tough time for all of us, but a little easier, I think, after their visit. Now, after 3 years, we anticipate his 3rd surgery, additional catherizations, and possibly a pacemaker. We are most fortunate to have all of you too! Your support at meetings (March & October) and the picnic, has been extremely beneficial. Choosing to become involved was the best decision WE could've made, at a time of uncertainty.

Now, it is an honor to have been selected as the new Visitation Committee Chairperson. I am especially grateful that Sherry Noel has agreed to help co-chair this committee also. We hope to continue to provide assistance and direction to all of our Visitation Volunteers, who in turn help so many heart patients and their families. 

Three new visitors signed up at the picnic in July, and one more since then! The current schedule of visitors is made up thru March 2003, but it will be nice to have some new visitors added the next rotation. Thanks to all of you, new and old, for your dedication! You should receive a post-card reminder from Sherry prior to your scheduled visit. And thanks again, to Warren, April & Kelly for helping out through the transition. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sponsor A Survival Kit!
By Jill Hester

The Survival Kits that Hershey Hearts is providing to our families when their child is receiving treatment at Hershey Medical Center is an on-going project and continues to be well received and appreciated by the families. The canvas tote bags printed with the "heart in hand" design are filled with many items to help the families during what can be a very emotionally and financially stressful time. They are an important way for Hershey Hearts to support and help families of children with heart disease.

The average cost of a Survival Kit for Hershey Hearts is $20.00 per bag. If anyone would like to sponsor a survival kit, you may make a $20.00 donation to Hershey Hearts. Your donation will be acknowledged on a postcard that will be placed in the survival kit.

So, please make a donation, perhaps in honor of your special heart child, and help Hershey Hearts to strengthen families during their long journey from despair to hope!

Year End Treasurer's Report
By Jill Hester

Hershey Hearts' fiscal year runs from July 1st through June 30th. Below you will find a summary of the receipts and disbursements for Hershey Hearts for the fiscal year July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002. I think it's important to note that for this past fiscal year, Hershey Hearts did spend and put to good use all of the money that was received through
donations and fundraising. Everyone's help and support is much needed and very much appreciated!

Treasurer's Report
By Jill Hester

In the June newsletter, it was reported that the total balance in both our savings and checking accounts as of May 31, 2002 was $17,250.44. For the months of June, July and August, our receipts totaled $8,823.01, which consisted of $5,525.00 from the Heart Beat Raffle proceeds, $10.00 designated for the "For Hearts" Fund, $1,849.68 in proceeds from the Goodwill Fire Company Charity Softball Game, and $1,366.78 in cash donations. The savings account earned $71.55 in interest.

 Disbursements totaled $9,685.32 from June through August. They included $6,771.29 in fundraising costs, $555.26 in picnic expenses, $659.87 for the June newsletter printing and mailing, $275.47 in printing expenses, $1,362.93 in Survival Kit costs, and an additional $60.50 for CHD Day. The total balance in both our savings and checking accounts as of August 31, 2002 is $16,388.13. As always, if anyone would like to make a donation or contact us for any reason, our mailing address is:

Hershey Hearts
P.O. Box 163
Hershey, PA 17033-0163

Longaberger Basket Bingo
By Terisa Johnson

Hi everyone! We are starting to plan our 4th Annual Basket Bingo. This year we are going to hold the Hershey Hearts Basket Bingo at the Loyal Moose Lodge at 970 Capehorn Road in York. The date is set for Sunday, April 27, 2003. We are asking if anyone can help in either finding sponsors or even being a sponsor please let me know as soon as possible. We are also in need people or businesses to help fill the baskets or even gift certificates. If you are interested in helping plan this event please let me know. We need help in all areas. Let's make this a great event! You can contact Terisa Johnson.

Family Portraits
By Gail Jordan

The story about our fifth daughter Carly's birth started out in much the same way as all of her sisters. As with the other girls, my pregnancy was pretty routine. I felt great most of the time. I was so excited waiting for our baby to be born. My due date was November 17th but because I was late with all of the other girls, I was not surprised when I didn't go into labor until November 23rd. After a fairly short labor, my obstetrician, Dr. Thomas Samuelsen, delivered our beautiful child, Carly Lauren. I remember Dr. Samuelsen teasing my husband Bill about having enough bathrooms in our house! She's just perfect, I thought and could not wait for her sisters to meet her!

Carly's troubles began in the very early hours after her birth. After giving her a bath, the nurse noticed that she seemed to be turning blue. That's when our pediatrician, Dr. Dennis Dawgert came to the hospital and after a careful examination, determined that Carly was experiencing heart problems. Our areas chief neonatologist, Dr. Delfor Salazar was quickly on the scene. After stabilizing Carly, a pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Mark Farrin was quickly flown from Allentown to Scranton to examine her. After doing a echocardiogram, Carly was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Vessels. She was then life flighted down to Hershey Hospital where Dr. John Myers performed corrective surgery on our baby who was less than 36 hours old. She came through the seven hour operation with flying colors! Dr. Myers assured us that Carly would make a full recovery and grow up to be a healthy little girl! My family and I are so very grateful to Dr. Myers. Words are never enough. How do you thank someone who gave your daughter her life back? He truly is a wonderful man who we will never forget. Again, thank you Dr. Myers. I must also mention our heartfelt gratitude toward Penny Porter and the excellent nursing staff at Hershey.

Carly will celebrate her 4th birthday on November 24th. She is the light of our lives and we cherish everyday with her. In closing, I would also like to thank all of the above mentioned doctors. Dr. Samuelsen, Dr. Dawgert, Dr. Salazar and Dr. Farrin, your support was wonderful and we have appreciated it always!

Family Portraits
By Jeff & Ellen Geisel

Hi! This is Joshua Jordan ("J.J.") Geisel from Mechanicsburg, PA. He is 2 years and 7 months old. He has been through a lot in the past 2 years of his life! Joshua was diagnosed with Right Hypoplastic Heart when I was approximately 5 months pregnant with him. He also has transposition of the great vessels and a hole in his heart. My pregnancy with J.J. continued without any other complications, as with my labor, considering it did last 24 hours! Joshua was born on April 5, 2000 at 10:36 am at Hershey Medical Center. I only held him for about a minute, because the doctors wanted to transfer him to the NICU for evaluation. His face was bluish-purple, due to his heart condition and from him traveling through the birth canal. I did not see him again until 11:00 pm because they were having trouble inserting his umbilical lines. Fortunately, they found no other complications during their initial evaluation. He was then scheduled for his first open heart surgery 2 days later. This surgery was no surprise to us because we were informed, by the doctors, prior to his birth. We also knew that he would have the surgeries done in stages as he became older. The surgery occurred without any complications, but they did have some trouble keeping his O2 sats up afterwards. He was even 4 eventually became more short of breath with activity, and would turn blue in his hands and feet. We knew the time for his next surgery was getting closer... and we were becoming more nervous and anxious! When his O2 sats had reached the upper 70's, they had decided to schedule him for surgery on September 25, 2001... just 14 days after the terrorist attacks! Now we were even more nervous, as with everyone else in the U.S.! Luckily, J.J.'s surgery went well, and he has been doing great ever since. He only spent 2 days in the hospital. How amazing it is for children to recover so quickly from major surgeries! He no longer has periods of shortness of breath or blueness. His activity greatly increased and it has continued. Joshua is our "little angel" from heaven, but can also be a "little devil" at times! I guess he was preparing us for the terrible twos. He loves to play with his big brother Hunter, who is now 4. He also enjoys playing outside, chasing his doggy Madison, and going to the pool. He will now need just one more surgery to complete the stages, which should occur 2-4 years from now. The love and support from our family and friends has been unbelievable. We also can't say enough about the wonderful care that was provided to Joshua while at Hershey Medical Center. All of his doctors and nurses were amazing. We are so blessed to be able to live so close to this hospital and be surrounded by it's wonderful staff... they do have "hearts of gold!"

Family Portraits

We are looking to feature Hershey Hearts Families in upcoming issues of the newsletter. If you would like to contribute please send your child's story including photographs to: Hershey Hearts, P.O. Box 163, Hershey, PA 17033-0163. Photographs will be returned.

Hershey Hearts Picnic
By Paul Sipe

The 6th Annual Hershey Hearts Picnic was held July 20th at Hoffer Park in Middletown. There were a total of 99 children and 91 adults present, including many new faces. Clowns, several members from York Township's Goodwill Fire Co. in York Co. and a magician were on hand to entertain the children. Although it was a warm day, a fun time was had by all that attended. Hope to see everyone there next year!

We Need Your Help!

Please consider volunteering for the following positions in Hershey Hearts:
. Member-at-Large
. Picnic Chairperson
. Fundraising Committee
. Visitation
If you have any interest in volunteering for any of these positions, or would like to be on one of the committees please let me know. I can be reached by leaving a message on the "Hershey Hearts" phone system at 1-800-864-2349 ext.3388

Coming Events and Reminders
Mark your calendars for the following events in 2002 and 2003:

.  Hershey Hearts Support Group Meeting Saturday, October 19, 2002, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM 
   at the Hershey Medical Center.
.  Hershey Hearts Support Group Meeting Saturday, March 15, 2003, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM
   at the Hershey Medical Center.
.  4th Annual Basket Bingo Sunday, April 27, 2003 at Loyal Moose Lodge, 970 Capehorn Road, York, PA.
.  Board Meetings are held the third Monday of every month.
.  If you have any questions, suggestions, or entries for the newsletter please send them to Hershey
   Hearts, P.O. Box 163, Hershey, PA 17033-0163.
.  If you know of a family that would like to receive this newsletter or would like to be removed from the
   mailing list, please call 1-800-864-2349, mailbox #3388.
.  If you are moving or have an address change, please call Hershey Hearts at 1-800-864-2349, mailbox
   #3388 to give the correct address.