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Brave little Hearts for Michael and Friends was founded in order to support families of the 1-in-100 babies born with Congenital Heart Disease each year. We help families connect with transitional support groups, educational resources, medical advocacy, social activities and related events in the community. Through these actions we build partnerships, elevate awareness, stimulate fundraising campaigns and increase family self- empowerment. We anticipate your partnership as we strive to help other families who find themselves traveling on an uncertain journey with a child who has Congenital Heart Disease.
Michael Richard Winchester is the charter member of Brave little Hearts who endured a year-long stay at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Michael was one of the 1-in-100 babies born with Congenital Heart Disease and every day of his life was a gift. The organization was birthed as a result of his family’s experience of living at the hospital and doing all they could to get their baby home. Michael finally went home just shy of his first birthday. Michael was blessed with a Mom (Naomi) who knew how to advocate in every way for her son. There was no medical term that she did not seek to understand and no medical personnel that she would not challenge. Naomi and her husband William moved a mountain to get Michael home and in a short time Michael blossomed.
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Brave little Hearts for Michael and Friends will host its 4th Annual Fundraiser on December 8, 2018. This community event enables Brave little Hearts to provide awareness, informational resources and assistance to families who have children born with Congenital Heart Disease. As a premier community supporter we are asking for a financial gift that will help open doors and support overwhelmed families who without warning are now navigating a difficult path. |
The Winchester family met many parents along the way and saw a clear need for support, guidance and comfort with the hospital-to-home transition process for families. Brave little Hearts provides a lighthouse of resources to enhance and uplift family life as families care for their child through the challenge of living with Congenital Heart Disease.
The impact of this new way of life for families can prove overwhelming and catastrophic often leaving families feeling caught in a web of hopelessness and despair. This scenario has led some to abandon their child at the hospital out of love due to lack of skills, resources, and know-how to provide proper care at home. Brave little Hearts knows firsthand there is hope, the love of a family in the daily home life of a CHD child is instrumental in how the child thrives and grows. Michael’s family learned what it takes on the long road home and committed themselves to sharing and supporting others who found themselves on this unfamiliar path.
Unfortunately, Michael’s heart could not handle the stress of his last open heart surgery and he passed on March 6, 2017 just a few weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. Michael was a happy baby and brightened the day of everyone he touched. Please help us continue Michael’s legacy of fighting against the odds and brightening the day of those children and families who are struggling to make through another day.
We reach out to community leaders as we cannot do this endeavor alone. You are part of the hope and part of the help. Let’s make a difference together.
