Honor the moms in your life at Costco
Sunday, May 12 is Mother’s Day! A day to celebrate all the moms in our lives who care and nurture and make our days brighter.
This year, we’re celebrating moms everywhere and we especially know CMN Hospitals’ miracle moms never give up the fight to help their kids live better and we’re thankful for their tireless efforts every day.
Izabella and her mom Krystina
As a premature baby in the neonatal intensive care unit, along with her twin sister, Jesubelle, Izabella wasn’t showing signs of progress. She eventually became one of the youngest patients ever to receive a heart-lung transplant. Her family slept by her side for days after her surgery, on one of the many pullout couches, funded by donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Funds from CMN Hospitals also provide the most advanced medical technology and treatment available, ensuring that Izabella receives the best care possible from 11 specialists at the hospital. Recently, the pediatric department also received new tools to visualize airways in kids like Izabella because of funds from CMN Hospitals. Izabella will need continued monitoring, but she’s full of spunk and vigor and continues to defy the odds. She calls her transplant doctor “my hero.”
Ciarlo and his mom Kira
Despite being born with a severe form of Spina Bifida, having surgery at just 21 hours and a shunt placed in his brain at two weeks, Ciarlo–who is paralyzed from the waist down–has a personality that brightens every room. In fact, he’s been nicknamed “The Mayor” because of his outgoing, cheerful demeanor. It’s an outlook that means everything for a family that’s dealt with so much. In 2016, Ciarlo’s older brother, Dominic, lost his battle to brain cancer. Since Dominic’s death, the Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT) has provided emotional, social and spiritual support to help the family work through their grief. Ciarlo meets with a PACT child life therapist, and his parents see a PACT bereavement social worker. Funds raised through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals support PACT and other programs that help children and families cope with the hospital experience. Ciarlo continues to bring his unique brand of joy to everyone he meets. He’s proud of his accomplishments, and loves telling people that his first word was “stethoscope.”
Logan and his mom Andrea
With Logan’s condition, symptoms can vary depending on the individual. That makes him truly one-of-a-kind, but also means his journey will be tough to navigate. The future is unknown and there is currently no cure for his disease. Logan continually faces numerous risks associated with his condition including respiratory illnesses, scoliosis, seizures and contractures of the joints. He visits specialists at multiple Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to ensure he receives the best care. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals programs have helped Logan and his family with transportation costs to travel to and from the hospital. This determined and focused 9-year-old, loves Star Wars, the Avengers, Pokemon and making people laugh. When he talks about the future, he explains that someday he’d like to be an inventor. Regarding his condition, he says, “I just roll with it.”
Samerya and her mom Carletta
After a long journey trying to find a diagnosis for Samerya’s illness, Children’s National discovered that Samerya had a disease of the kidneys that prevented her body from breaking down proteins and caused scarring on her kidneys and her body to swell. At 4 years old, Samerya had her kidneys removed through her belly button. After 11 months on dialysis, Samerya received a kidney transplant. The transplant itself was a success. Unfortunately, her syndrome returned and is affecting her new kidney. Samerya will remain on anti-rejection medicine as her talented caregivers figure out the next steps. For now, her disease is in remission, and Samerya maintains a positive outlook on life. She loves the Food Network and anything to do with princesses. When she grows up, she wants to be a nurse and help kids in the hospital like her.
To show all the moms you know and love how much you care, stop by Costco and buy a miracle balloon in their honor (you can also pick up flowers and a cake too!). Donations will help kids like and their families live better.
Costco has been making miracles for sick and injured kids for the past 32 years (27 in Canada). Together Costco members and employees have raised more than $386 million. Through May 31, Costco will collect donations for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by selling miracle balloons at the register or self checkout lanes and by accepting donations online.