By Dee De Los Santos
Hello, everyone! My name is Dee, and I am a fellow heart mom. My son Winston recently turned 2. He lives with double outlet right ventricle (DORV), transposition of the great arteries (TGA), and a straddling mitral valve. He had his Glenn last year in July at BC Children’s Hospital.
I’ve started an initiative called “Heart Boxes,” which are care packages I will be sending to children living with CHD who are celebrating a heartiversary (or even a birthday). In the Heart Box, you’ll find items to help you celebrate your heartiversary (heart-themed plates, cups, cake-in-a-cup, balloons, etc.; enough for 4 people) and a surprise gift to celebrate the occasion.
Heart Boxes are provided FREE of charge to kids living with congenital heart defects and can be hand-delivered to heart kids at home or at BC Children’s Hospital.
I am starting small and delivering to Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, and North Vancouver addresses (for now, until I am able to expand!). Because I was able to start this initiative thanks to a grant from Vancouver Foundation, I am only able to fulfill 15 boxes for the time being, but I hope that this takes off so I can send more out in the near future!
If you would like a Heart Box delivered, please fill in the form here: http://geekparty.ca/services/heart-boxes/
Please allow 2–4 weeks for delivery. If your date is any earlier, please get in touch, and we’ll try our best to accommodate. Please note we will begin delivering boxes mid-August 2020 to heart children living within the cities listed above.
If there is an overwhelming response to the Heart Boxes, we will put your name into a draw for the first 15 and will contact those who would like to be updated in the future when we are able to expand operations.
If you are a business that would like to donate items for the Heart Boxes, or if you would like to sponsor a box, please get in touch: domenicdls@gmail.com.
Thank you, and stay safe out there!
Dee & Winston
