Happy birthday Miracle!
In Ohio, Miracle celebrated her 1st birthday and is Casey Cares' 75th birthday this year!
Casey Cares knows that for a critically ill child, each birthday is a special milestone celebrating life. For the children in our programs, it not only marks another year, but it also demonstrates a great achievement. Casey Cares staff and volunteers work hard to send out each of our kids a special birthday package through our Birthday Blast program - we send over 1,000 a year. This simple act of kindness delivers joy and hope to our kids who are undergoing treatment.
(A) Miracle Perseveres from the Start
Amy first discovered “Mira,” as she is known to family members, was sick at an ultrasound. Mira’s diagnosis was hypoplastic heart syndrome, which is when the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped and incapable of supporting the systemic circulation.
Amy was present at Mira’s birth and cut her umbilical cord. After Mira was born, she spent her first 4 months in Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital.
According to Amy, Mira, “already has had 2 heart surgeries and has one more to go once she passes three years old.”
Her first birthday also comes at a special point in her life; her mom, Amy, is undergoing the process of adopting Miracle.
What Casey Cares Can Do
Mira joined Casey Cares programs in 2022 and has cozied up in a Casey Cares blanket and was dazzled by a holiday light show.
Recently, Amy loved bringing Mira to a Disney On Ice show thanks to Casey Cares and even sat with other families of critically ill children that are supported by us!
With activities provided free of cost by Casey Cares to families with critically ill children, Amy finds that the best part of the foundation is its community.
“It gives you hope, grounds you. It provides you with connections [to other families] that you never thought of,” she states.
What No One Talks About
Like other family memberes and caregivers, Amy has found it challenging to care for a critically ill child.
She says, “[you] feel alone [and] people don’t know what you’re going through. Another challenge is learning the medical needs of a child because so much information is thrown at you like how to check oxygen levels.”
However, she has discovered that “you have to learn to open up about what you and your kid needs.”
No matter what, her love of Miracle is ever-present. Amy concludes, “[Miracle] is amazing! People say she’s lucky to have us but it has nothing to do with us, it’s all her. She perseveres!”