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 One family turns their grief into a passion for helping other families, including those celebrating the holidays in the hospital
"Mommy, my heart is happy!" Those words still resonate in Karen James’ mind, even several years after her sparkly−eyed, four−year−old daughter said them after being diagnosed with a diffuse pontine glioma−inoperable brain cancer. Her daughter, Leah, died on August 3, 2005. Since then, James and her husband, Phil, and daughter, Kylie, now 11 years old, have created Leah’s Happy Hearts Foundation as a tribute to the smiling child who had a happy heart.
In December 2007, the family and the foundation hosted their first event at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, bringing unwrapped gift items to the parks on each of floors 5, 6 and 7 and allowing every child in care to shop for gifts to give family members. According to James, the event, which was coordinated by the Mott Community Relations Office, served about 60 children who were hospitalized over the Christmas holiday. "I remember how it felt being in the hospital for so long. Like the world is going on without you," said James. "I wanted to bring a sense of normalcy to those children and their families."
Each child was able to shop for their family members and then foundation volunteers wrapped their gifts and put a purple gift tag on the item. The gift tags were inspired by Leah’s favorite color. Each tag featured the smiley face heart that Leah always drew and that has become the foundation’s logo. The children also received fleece blankets, a snow globe with a photo of themselves inside and the opportunity to select an item for themselves. Families with hospitalized babies received a $25 gift card for gas or necessities. Leah’s Happy Hearts Foundation purchased most of these items. Generous supporters who were inspired by the family’s vision for a happier Christmas for hospitalized kids donated the remaining items.
 Karen and Phil James keep the memory of their daughter, Leah, alive through their foundation, which raises money to help other Mott patients and families.
Small Touches
"I really feel like this is a cool way to remember Leah’s joyful spirit," commented James. "I miss her so much, but I want her spirit to live on. And, I want other children to know that they can have a happy heart too, no matter what is happening in their life."
The James‘ credit the skilled care, both medically and emotionally, they received at Mott with helping them get through many challenging moments.
"It was such a stressful, difficult time, and it was so hard to accept her prognosis, but the little things that the hospital did touched my heart because they made Leah smile," said James. "Those simple, little things made a difference for her and for us."
Because of that experience, James and her family have become focused on giving back to the community that was so important to them in their time of need. They want other children who are working hard to get healthy to know there is someone out there who cares about them and knows how it feels. James feels that this event at Mott is just the first step for Leah’s Happy Hearts Foundation. She is committed to raising money to help kids battling illnesses, especially pediatric cancer. "I want to create an awareness of what these kids face and I am going to keep fighting for them," said James, "whether that means going to Washington to ask for more research funding or making sure they can have some normalcy at Christmas."
 
Thanks to the generosity
of the James family and their foundation, many Mott patients were faced with great choices when selecting gifts to give to their family members for the holidays.
Planning Ahead
James, her husband and daughter, and their foundation are now hard at work on a family−oriented fun run in Leah’s memory. They also hope to make the shopping event even more successful next year. "This event took the focus off my grief and put it somewhere else, where it was rewarding and could benefit children," said James. "Doing this was the highlight of my holiday!"
She agrees that there were a few more happy hearts at Mott at the end of that day in December.
Learn more about Mott Tours and Entertainment at www.mottchildrenshospital.org and click on "patient/visitor guide." Visit www.leahshappyhearts.org to learn how you can help. Visit www.leahsjourney.com to learn more about Leah’s life and her journey. |
