Welcome
Welcome back to all our annual donors, and hello to anyone new! Unbelievably, this is the eighteenth year of our fundraiser. We're so appreciative to everyone for your continued support. You've helped us and Children's Hospital Los Angeles accomplish some mighty things, and we're hoping to do even more together. Having this hospital in our community is an incredible benefit, and we hope you'll join in our efforts to keep advancing the technology and treatment available to kids like me. In the fourteen years since my last open-heart surgery, the advances made at CHLA made it possible for someone like me to have corrective in-utero surgery and most miraculously, develop a healthy heart at birth. Your donations help make science fiction a reality right here in Los Angeles. We could not be more grateful for your support!
All our love,
Georgia and family
Georgia's Story
Georgia Kennedy Goldberg was born with severe congenital heart defects and no spleen. This meant that she would need several major open heart surgeries to begin correcting the problems. Georgia sailed through her first two surgeries (four days old & six months old) and recoveries. Her last surgery in the spring of 2009 was the most difficult challenge. While the surgery went according to plan, her post-op recovery was quite difficult. The anticipated ten-day stay stretched to over thirty days and included long periods of denying her any food and liquids while her body struggled to drain the chest fluids. It was an incredible amount of physical and emotional strain for anyone to endure, let alone a four-year-old child. Despite all of this, her fearless spirit and strength of will once again ultimately conquered any and all setbacks.
We're so proud of what Georgia has accomplished and how, in a strange and unexpected way, it's helped her grow into the wonderful young woman she is today. Just as she sought to understand every prick and prod of her hospital stay, she now questions, seeks to understand, and empathizes with the world around her. Her optimism is unmatched and she approaches all endeavors with unyielding tenacity and an adventurous spirit.
The Georgia Fund
We're keenly aware that all of this is made possible by having access to a wonderful facility like Children's Hospital Los Angeles right here in our backyard. When we discovered Georgia's heart defects hours after her birth, we tapped all our personal resources and online information in researching the best facility in the country for her care. Children's Hospital Los Angeles kept coming up on everyone's list.
At the time, we didn't even know this hospital existed in LA, let alone that it was one of the premiere hospitals in the country for children's care with the top surgeons in the country. Uniquely, CHLA was one of the few places which offered a dedicated pediatric, cardio-thoracic, intensive care unit for post-operative recovery. In plain terms, this meant that all of the doctors, nurses, and equipment were all geared for dealing with unique heart conditions and potential complications.
It's an expensive proposition for a hospital to stay at the forefront and make advancements in cardiac care. With other local hospitals losing ground in staffing and advancements, supporting the CHLA Heart Center becomes even more critical. We're counting on our family and friends to help the efforts to support this beacon for all cardiac kids.
Even our dog, Cooper, is pitching in all he can to lend support to the hospital. He became a member of the pet therapy team at CHLA.
Again, thank you and we're grateful for all our support then, now, and moving forward to future advancements and care.
The Oscar Pool
Academy Awards season has become the time of year for our annual fundraising effort to benefit Children's Hospital Los Angeles. We have always enjoyed watching the Oscars with family and friends because we all like to see if we can pick the winners. So, we thought that everyone could share in the fun and help raise money to continue supporting the CHLA Cardiac Unit and Research. To support this cause, all you need to do is fill out the google entry form with your picks by clicking the button below (please note some categories are worth 2 points and some are worth 1 point - there is also a tie-breaker question - please fill out all categories). A minimum suggested donation of $50 would be appreciated, but all donations are of course welcome. The one with the most points will win a prize.
This year we've made it a little easier to donate with the dedicated page on the CHLA website:
http://connect.chla.org/site/Donation2?2480.donation=form1&df_id=2480&mfc_pref=T
You can also click the button at the top of the page or you can give Kerry and Brad your donation, or mail a check (made out to either CHLA or Children's Hospital Los Angeles) to:
Brad Goldberg & Kerry Kennedy
3555 Stonewood Drive
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Thanks and good luck. We'll announce the winner on this website or via email shortly after the awards and tell you how to claim the prizes.
More Info
(310)-871-4473
