Inspiration Through Art (Littlest Heroes Project)

Andrew

Felicia (Admin) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:34:46 +0000

Andrew Aidan LeGar was born on December 05, 2009. He and his dog Beemer have been the pride and joy of their parents, Michelle & Roi ever since. He loves to take walks outside with his best friend Beemer, play with his Thomas the Tank Engine set of toys ( along with any other plane, helicopter, car, truck toy he can get his hand on) as well. For those that have met him, they see the soul of a mature adult in the body of a sweet,sensitive, loving boy. He is currently battling with a rare form of brain tumor called Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor or ATRT. It is a rare brain tumor that effects less than 100 children a year in this country. We are confident that the Greater powers that be will guide the hands and minds of the great doctors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to help us treat this rare condition and help AA get back on track to living the long and meaningful life that he is going to have. He has been an inspiration to us and we are sure he will be a vessel of inspiration to those in similar situations as he lives his life to the fullest. AA has endured multiple brain procedures, extensive chemo & radiation therapy and now has multiple tumors on his spine. The doctors say that there is nothing more they can do for AA and that his days with us are numbered from weeks to months. We now hope for a miracle from above.

-Please share our page and keep our hero Andrew in your thoughts- ITA

Treasure Box Program!

Felicia (Admin) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:58:34 +0000

Loved our “Art with Heart” event? Looking for more ways to give back? Every morning you are handed 24 golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn’t buy an extra hour. What will you do with this priceless treasure? No one understands this treasure more then children and teens who are fighting everyday for their lives and who are defeating the odds stacked against them! Help honor a hero this year by sending them a “Treasure Box of Love” for their birthday! What is a “Treasure Box of Love”? A handmade box created with hope and encouragement for a child or teen who needs that extra bit of love! Boxes contain small items that the recipient can enjoy at their home, in the car, at the clinic, or at the hospital! Share this with your friends and family- make a hero feel treasured on their birthday this year!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

SuLe

Felicia (Admin) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:48:30 +0000

Meet Beautiful SuLe! SuLe was adopted into our family from Beijing, China, in January 2009. Her name means “the reawakening of joy” and it fits her perfectly. She is a beautiful, outgoing little girl who loves art, music and posing for pictures. She has a long medical road ahead of her, with ongoing doctors visits and many other challenges. She has scoliosis, spina bifida, and limb difference, although just talking to her you would never know. She is just the sweetest little girl, full of spunk and laughter. She is quite the actress and model too! I cannot believe how brave she is, truly an inspiration to all of us. Everyone who meets SuLe agrees that she is an incredibly inspiring person who lights up the room wherever she goes!

Rhyer

Felicia (Admin) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:45:37 +0000

Meet beautiful blue eyed Rhyer! This little hero has been through a lot in his short 3 1/2 years. Diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Rhyer has already suffered a massive stroke and had 3 open heart surgeries. At one point we were told he may never sit-up or walk. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome occurs when parts of the left side of the heart (mitral valve, left ventricle, aortic valve, and aorta) do not develop completely. The condition is congenital (present at birth). Rhyer is really more then a hero, he is a miracle. People can’t always explain the amount of joy and happiness they see in Rhyer. He has a sparkle in his eyes and a smile that would melt anyone’s heart. Despite the hardships his family has been through the amount of love they share for each other is truly inspirational Rhyer has so much heart and so much love!

Kaysia

Felicia (Admin) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:52:00 +0000

When Kaysia came into this world, we had no idea what she (or us)was about to face. After discovering she contracted septicemia during delivery, she was rushed to the NICU. The next day we were informed she had the infection in her blood, a heart condition, and they were also sure she had Down syndrome. This came as a complete shock to us since we had a textbook pregnancy with no complications and we were both in our early 20′s with no risk factors to even be tested. Still, a test confirmed the diagnosis a week later, as she still lay in intensive care. Fast forward 5 years and we look at Kaysia today. She has gone through so much already: 8 surgeries, 3 hospital stays, severe and undiagnosed GI issues, ear disease, absorption issues, clostridia infections, and the list goes ! on. She did not walk until she was 43 months and still cannot run or jump. She was also diagnosed with sensory processing disorder. But NONE of this stops Kaysia from being who she is. She is amazingly confident, self-assured, and lights up any room she enters. She is also has incredible pre-literacy skills, and is able to sight read, recite phonetics, spell words from memory, partake in swimming and horseback riding lessons and gymnastics. We are still fighting for her health and we have never given up, even when the doctors have. Why? Because Kaysia showed us how to keep going no matter what obstacles come in your way. She has taught us to be more forgiving, patient, compassionate, and tenacious. We are simply better people because she is in our lives.

Hayden

Felicia (Admin) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:27:27 +0000

Meet our little hero, Hayden. While still Pregnant we found out that Hayden had Down Syndrome and also a heart problem known as Atrioventricular canal defect. When Hayden was 5 Months old just weighing 10lbs he had open heart surgery. Hayden is now 5 yrs old and is a very energetic little boy who loves to play outside and with his younger brother. He loves school and making new friends. Hayden is as sweet as they come; he meets no stranger and loves everyone. Hayden Has truly been a blessing to our family

Art with Heart Wrap Up!

Felicia (Admin) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:06:25 +0000

Official 2012 Card Map: Updated February 14th 2012

Can you say ABSOLUTELY AMAZING? For it’s first run, the Art With Heart Drive was more successful then we ever imagined. Because of all of the wonderful cards handmade from around the country (and further…thank you to our Canada supporters as well!) We were able to stuff huge envelops with 10-15 valentines for each child! WAY TO GO! Our next ongoing project will be announced March 1st, so stay tuned! Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this Valentines Day very special for children!

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Wall of Love

Beautiful Jeanaveve, our first hero to receive one of our Art With Heart envelops! She is excited to write back to her pen pals who sent her love this holiday! This smile is why we do what we do! Mommy was told she couldn’t have any more babies, but I had other plans. When I was a year old, I came down with a nasty cold. Mommy took me to the doctor’s, and he heard a heart murmur. After two ECG’s, I was diagnosed with PAPVR, a congenital heart defect. We didn’t know the severity of it, since they couldn’t get a good enough look at it through the ECG’s and chest X-rays. I had another ECG while I was asleep, and when I was around 2, I had a cardiac catheterization. This past September, when I was 3, I had surgery to put the anomalous vein in the right place. I was very brave and even made some new friends at the hospital. Since then, I’ve been completely cleared and told that I only have to see the cardiologist once a year!

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Angelo absolutely loved opening up his special Valentines! Angelo was an unrestrained infant in a car accident when he was 8 mo old which resulted in a spinal cord injury. We became his foster parents when he was 2 yrs old and adopted him the following year. When he came to us he had a wheelchair that he refused to use, had eating issues, and was unable to speak because of grade 4 subglottic stenosis. We later discovered that he has a neurogenic bladder and bowel. Angelo is now a very outgoing, talkative boy. He also no longer has any eating issues. His favorite food is chicken. He loves sports and video games. He does not let his medical issues get him down. He always has a smile on his face and an positive attitude. He has come a long way in the few years he has been in our family.

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Ella was born in September 2008 and by December 2008 we noticed an abnormal bump in the front part of her mouth. An oral surgeon thought it was a cyst, but discovered it was an aggressive tumor during surgery to remove it. Once the pathology report came back it was diagnosed as a very rare tumor called neuroectodermal tumor of infancy. It is very rare and none of the doctors around had even had experience with this type of tumor, especially on a baby. This type of tumor though is almost always benign (thank God). It rarely spreads to other parts of the body, but is very fast to reoccur and attack that part of the body again. We were then referred to Portland Oregon to see a wonderful specialist. The tumor did reoccur 3 months later and another surgery was performed. 3 months ! after that, it came back and the only option was to remove Ella’s entire upper left jaw. We had to learn to feed her from a ng tube at home for a while during the healing process. Ella has had ct scans and a clean bill of health. She had dental implants placed to hold a prosthesis that she will eventually wear to cover the hole in her palate and have teeth on it for her. When she is an adult she will have a major operation to have a bone placed that will become her new jaw. Doctors thought all of this would have a huge impact on her speech but to their surprise, and ours, she is doing great! She has learned to place her tongue where it needs to go and she eats just about everything! Straws are a bit of a challenge at times. She has healed great despite everything she experienced in her first year of life, she just has a little crooked smile that we think is just so darn cute Developmentally she is right on track, nothing is going to get in this little spunky 3 year olds ! way

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Desinty loved her Valentines, thanks so much! Our hero is a brave little girl she is loved by many and no matter what she is going through she almost always has a smile for everyone. She normally puts others first. She loves to rough house and to play and laugh. Her favorite activity is swimming. She goes through alot with 7+ doctors to go to including botox for her muscles every 3 months. Weekly therapy, monthly or more Dr apts and people who just don’t understand her and her situation on a daily basis. She has a rare gentic disorder along with multiple other diagnosis. Her favorite thing to do is be in the water. She could use a break from it all and a day or 2 to do her favorite thing.

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For those interested in helping out and giving back please visit the MISSION INSPIRE page and sign up to stay updated on upcoming events and programs!

January 2012 Contest (Photographers) What Inspires You?

Felicia (Admin) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:55:48 +0000

Contest type:
Writing

Contest Theme:

What Inspires You

Photographers, what inspires you? Tell us about what motivates you to do what you do through your photography as a business, personally, and how it has effected your life! 3 winners will be chosen on January 31st and will receive a $25 gift voucher to Volume 25 Digital Eye Candy! The contest opens January 3rd and ends January 28th. Voting will take place the 28th-30th on our Facebook page!

Rules:
-Please keep submissions under 2,000 words
-1 entry per photographer, entries are to be left in comments
-You do NOT have to be signed up with ITA to participate
-Please include your NAME, STATE, AND EMAIL or your entry will not be counted!
-Voting will begin on January 3rd 2012

After you submit your entry post this page on your facebook, email it, or share it with friends! Have everyone stop by here and “like” your submission! The top 8 entries will be voted on January 28th.

This months prize:

A $25 gift voucher to Volume 25- Digital Eye Candy

“VOL.25 was started in January of 2008 when I opened the doors to my virtual business via etsy.com. Originally VOL25 was purely stocked with my digitally created art. Eventually I had the thought to combine my artwork with my photography… a fellow photographer pointed me in the right direction and in December of 2009, I released my first 3 sets of Overlays and the response was amazing, it definitely gave me the encouragement to keep going! Today the collections continue to grow each month. In addition to the overlays (custom shapes) VOL.25 Digital Eye Candy is also offering album templates, as well as card templates. I have big plans for the coming year and am suuper excited to share them with everyone! I’ve been very fortunate to have an excellent group of photographers (take a peek at them HERE!) working with me from the beginning. They continue to and inspire me as an artist and a photographer.I am so thankful for all the friends I have met on this journey!”

http://vol25-digitaleyecandy.com

Asher

Felicia (Admin) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:36:00 +0000

Meet Brave Heart Asher Griffin, our courageous hero! He is our little heart warrior born October 27, 2010 with a complex congenital heart defect (CHD), Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia. We were unaware of Asher’s heart defect during pregnancy, so we were shocked and heartbroken when our sweet baby boy was born into this world fighting for his life. He has bravely endured 2 open heart surgeries and 3 heart catheterizations before his 1st birthday at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He also has some developmental delays due to his heart surgeries and a PVL brain injury, but is making wonderful progress and reaching milestones daily through therapy. We expect him to recover like a champ and lead a life not defined by his CHD, but rather a life filled with wonder, adventure, and joy – the sky is the limit! Asher’s CHD will require life-long specialized cardiac care, along with heart surgery/procedures as he grows, but we are believing for miracle breakthroughs in medical research. Our faith in an amazing God and His powerful promises of healing give us peace and hope for this journey. He can take broken pieces and make masterpieces! Our lives drastically changed the moment Asher was born with a broken heart, but we are stronger, love deeper, and have faith that can move mountains because of this incredible trial. With every crisis comes opportunity. I have been so blessed to have joined with other heart families to offer hope, help, and healing to others through our experience and spread CHD awareness. Little hearts hold BIG hopes!

Fiona

Felicia (Admin) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:07:17 +0000

Fiona was born at 36 weeks. We knew during the pregnancy that she had an elevated chance of having Down syndrome and her diagnosis was confirmed at birth. At two weeks of life Fiona’s breathing became rapid. She was diagnosed with a large VSD and a PFO. For the next three and a half months we struggled around the clock to add ounces to her tiny frame in order to prepare for surgery. On January 25th, 2010 we learned she needed surgery soon. She had maxed out on her medications, and feeding her was becoming more and more difficult. A two ounce bottle took 45 minutes to an hour, and more often than not she would bring the majority of it back up and then we would start again. Feeding every three hours around the clock became our lives, and family had to help out when my m! aternity leave was up. Fiona was asleep for more than 23 hours a day. On February 12th, I carried Fiona into the operating room and laid her down on the table and kissed my baby. The feeling walking out of that room is something I wish no parent ever has to feel, you can’t help but think you’re seeing your child for the last time, and for some parents, that is the reality. Fiona was a trooper through surgery and was extubated the next day. She began to eat and was actualy HUNGRY! You have never seen parents so happy to hear their baby fussing for food. Since she had been asleep for four months, Fiona was very much like a newborn. At 6 weeks out from surgery we resumed her physical therapy sessions and this time she was actually able to participate. Fiona is now a happy, chunky, and extremely loving 16 month old little bundle of energy. Although she is still small at 18lbs, she looks huge to us. She is crawling and is now beginning to pull to standing. You can’t help but smile when you see her. Fiona’s big sister Katie is her favorite person in the whole world, and the two are inseparable.