Heart Ball 2010 - Two Years of Victory

Over the weekend, we had the honor of representing thousands of families at the American Heart Association Heart Ball in Denver. The 2010 event spotlighted the journey of our little warrior and the blessings received through organ donation and medical intervention.

The black-tie event is an annual gala to raise awareness and money to help pediatric cardiac disease research. A 7 minute video was played that chronicled Garrett's journey through 22 surgeries, 3 hearts and two heart transplants. The film crew interviewed the entire family individually last year, but we didn't get to really see it that night because we were on stage. We could tell by the audience reaction that it was powerful. Sunday night after we returned we had a private showing at the house. Wow......break out the tissues.

We were deeply honored to share this special evening at the Heart Ball with Garrett's donor family as our guests. To have Hal and Rebecca with us meant more than we could describe and put an exclamation point on the depth of emotion shared at the event. I was felt so privileged to introduce them to the doctor who performed Garrett's last transplant. As they shook hands, those of us watching were captivated knowing that two young boys, strangers, fought for their lives two years ago. Soon, the hands of that doctor would touch both boys as he took a life giving heart from one and placed it in another and immediately made the boys, one. The first and last hands to touch Darren as a baby and then before Garrett took a part of him to carry on. It was a powerful moment.

I'll post some photos soon, but suffice to say that it was a memorable event raising a lot of money for heart disease research. If one child, one family, one moment of research is helped or improved by knowing this story.....then we are humbled to share the journey.

God bless to all,

JD