Nolan - Guest of Honor at Rockin' For Little Hearts 3

Recently my dad, (State Representative Garth Everett) was contact by Cindy Gradowski, Chair of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation for the  Heart Institute. Someone had shared a YouTube video of my dad the day he announced to the House of Representatives that Nolan received the gift of life. From one heart family to another, you are touched to hear each other stories and even more elated when there is success at the end of your adventure. With that said, Cindy asked our family if we would accept the offer of Nolan being the guest of honor at the third annual fundraising concert for the Children's Heart Institute. The concert is named "Rockin' for Little Hearts 3" and is featuring Bret Michaels! This is Bret's second Rockin' for Little Hearts concert, last years raising $110,000 for The Heart Institute at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. We are so incredibly honored for Nolan to represent CHP and The Heart Institute.

The first week when Nolan became sick was a whirlwind. There were so many quick decisions that had to be made. When we were at Hershey Children's Hospital, after 5 days the doctor's felt that Nolan needed to go to a children's institution where there were options available for a possible heart transplant. Our minds where swirling...transplant? I remembering hearing the doctors speaking...several words resonated...and then we had to answer a question. "Where would you like to send your son? We need to make the decision now." They gave Matt and I a moment, but we stopped one of the physician's who we felt a connection with at Hershey and asked him, "If this was your child, where would you send them?" And he told us that he really was not allowed to answer that question, but in essence of our situation and the immediate decisions that needed to be made, he solidly answered, "I would send my child to Pittsburgh." We immediately said to him...DONE.

And we were off to Pittsburgh.

Here's the wonderful part of deciding to go to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh:

1. Have I ever mentioned that Matt and I are Pittsburgh fans? Steelers? YES! The Buccos? YES! The Pens? YES!
2. My best friend from college literally lives about 2 miles from CHP. Talk about fate.
3. My best friend's mom worked at CHP while we were inpatient. I already knew she would make sure Matt and I were comfortable.
4. While researching CHP on our drive there, I realized that this wasn't just a hospital for children, but they had a heart institute!

Our time at Pittsburgh was a success and we have a long, and hopefully, smooth road ahead of us. Nolan will continue to receive care through Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh throughout his childhood. Because of that I feel a responsibility to help support the Heart Institute at CHP, so I have decided to raise money to become a sponsor for the Rockin' For Little Heart 3 concert. My goal is to raise $1,000 and it coming from "Team Nolan." With that said, I am asking all of Nolan's followers, my family and friends to consider donating towards this amazing institute. The monies raised will help CHP continue to provide the most advanced, experienced and comprehensive cardiac care throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, the greater East Coast Region and beyond...even internationally! I will be taking donations until Monday, June 1. ANYTHING COUNTS! Give a little, give a lot. :)

To donate, please visit:

http://www.gofundme.com/nhosrockinhearts3

I thank you in advance! LASTLY, I want to highlight that today is the last day of National Donate Life Month. Currently, nearly 124,000 men, women and children are awaiting organ transplants in the United States. Each day, an average of 79 people receive organ transplants. However, an average of 21 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs. It's easy to sign up to be an organ donor - and I am about to make it easier for you. Click HERE and make a difference today. Become an organ donor. I found a comforting way how to understand organ donation:

"Donating an organ, whether through the wish of the person who has died, as a bereaved relative or as a living donor related to the recipient, is a unique example of the human capacity to love. Through organ donation, strangers suffering their separate sorrows of death and illness, share their sufferings and make to each other the gift of love and life."

Thank you ALL for your continued love and support. We appreciate it so much!

#nhos #rockinforlittlehearts3 #donatelife