HuskyTHON 2010

The HuskyTHON began officially at 6pm on February 22, 2010. The patient were given a dinner at 5 to celebrate the HuskyTHON. As always the students did an amazing job! There were over 600 dancers, over 100 volunteers, great coordinators, many sponsors and I believe 30 patient families (I could be wrong... very hard to keep track of all the numbers). The students are not allowed to sit for 18 hours, 6pm -12pm. The dancing started at 6 and the music only stopped for a family or an announcement.

When we walked in there was a line of students clapping for our little Becca. They do such an amazing job making the kids feel so special. Becca and Adam were given badges with their names. I have to fight with Adam every nap and bed time to take it off! He loves the badge and did a much better job wearing it then Becca did. The coordinators created a spirit dance that was done every hour. It was a medley of great songs that Becca and Adam loved. They had all kinds of bouncy houses, basketball, board game tables, and many other activities for the kids and the students to do. Jonathon the Husky made an appearance. Becca and Adam loved him! I would have to remind them that other kids wanted to play with him. He's a great dog! Becca hung out with her buddy President Hogan and for the second time made it into his blog.

Just to give you an idea about how much the HusyTHON has grown, last year Becca's sponsors, Pi Phi had 30 dancers. This year Pi Phi had 50 dancers. The girls did a wonderful job wrangling Becca. They followed her and helped her do any activity she wanted. I have to give those girls credit, you need a lot of energy to keep up with Becca1 They did a fantastic job! THANK YOU Pi Phi!

We stayed till 11pm on Saturday. The kids were exhausted. Becca fell asleep before we were even out of the parking garage, Adam was a different story. I think he was over stimulated. Both Adam and Becca loved playing basketball and many times Becca would disappear. I would find her dancing on stage! She was in Heaven!

Becca and I came back early Sunday Morning. As soon as Becca woke up , I got her dressed and put her in the car. We made a quick stop to get coffee and got back on the road to get back to UCONN. We got there around 9am. I have to say that there was a big difference in the energy level from when we left to when we got back. You could tell they were getting tired, but the hung in there. I noticed that as soon as they started seeing more kids come back the energy level picked up!

Becca found her way back to the stage on Sunday Morning and it was quite a sight to see. I had tears in my eyes. She was dancing on stage by herself and the students gathered around the stage, chanting her name and cheering her on! I hope this is a memory she will never forget! I know I won't! I told Becca's story Sunday morning. I have to say that I was very excited to learn the final number that the students raised for CT Children's. DRUM ROLL PLEASE.........................

The grand total was $150,228.00! They beat last years number by just over $42,000! I am very proud of everyone! Big shout outs to Andrew, Julie, Brianna and many others for there hard work to put together the HuskyTHON! They did an incredible job. On behalf of Becca and the other patients. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

I am very honored and proud to have been a small part of this event. We can not wait until next year!

Speech from today for Miracle Walk and Huskython

Becca's story actually begins with me. When I was 24 weeks pregnant, I noticed that my feet ankles and legs were very swollen. The next morning I went to see my doctor and found out that my blood pressure was through the roof. I was sent to Hartford Hospital to be monitored and was admitted. The next 4 days I spent in the Hospital on strict bed rest. The morning of the 5th day I was given an emergency c-section. I had HELPP syndrome a rare form of preaclamsia. My kidneys and liver had actually started shutting down. Sadly the only way that HELPP can be cured is to have the baby.

Rebecca Morgan Redman was born on July 30, 2003 weighing only 1 lb. and was 11 1/2 inches long. An average baby is between 7-8 lbs and 18-22 inches long.

When Becca was born, I was told to open my eyes and I saw a flash of the tenniest, tinniest leg i have ever seen. Becca had a team of Doctors and Nurses from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the OR. within seconds she was evaluated and brought down to the NICU so that her treatments could begin. She was immediately put on an oscillator respirator . Her bed in the incubator actually moved back and fourth to help her breath better. Because Becca was born at 24 weeks her lungs were not 100% developed, she needed a lot of extra help to breath.

i can not say enough about the NICU staff, they were all amazing and supportive. I was not able to see Becca until the day after she was born. Becca's Head Nurse Kathy met us at the door and taught me how to scrub up and then walked us to Becca's room and explained all of the wires and machines that Becca was hooked up to. She answered all of our questions. Then for the first time I was able to cuddle my daughter. Not hold. Cuddling is when you cu your hands around your tiny baby and let her know you are there. I have to admit, It was very surreal to watch my tiny baby hooked up to all the machines and watch her fight every second for her life, Gosh did she fight!

Becca was finally able to be held when she was 21 days old. That day she also got her first kisses, one from Daddy and one from Mommy. She gained her first pound a month after she was born. There was quite a celebration that day! we walked in her room to find it decorated with signs and pictures that her nurses made for her. Who thought that gaining a pound could be such a good thing? Which each pound Becca gained we found even more reason to celebrate. Before Becca was discharged from the hospital she had two life threatening infections and a total of 6 blood transfusions.

On November 7, 2003, one week before my due date, I walked by the nurses station to hear whispers saying.... who's going to tell her. I thought nothing of it and went to Becca's room. The winning nurse, Alyssia came running over to me and asked it i wanted to take my daughter home. Of course the answer was yes! As I took the leads and wires off Becca's little body i sang, "I got no strings to tie me down." ..... from Pinocchio. I looked down at My baby girl and for the first time in her time she had no strings and hasn't been tied down since. We went to the phone and called Gary and told him the best news a parent could hear. That day Gary and I took our tiny baby home. She weighed only 4lbs. 4oz when we left the NICU.

While Becca was in the NICU Gary and I were encouraged to change her diapers, give her baths, take her temperature, mix her formula and breast milk, feed her bottles and even give her meds. When we were there we truly felt like we were parents. There is even a room where parents can sleep over and the babies are brought in to sleep with you. It was great practice to get ready for Becca's homecoming!

The NICU Doctors and Nurses were incredible. In the 101 days that Becca spent in the NICU the staff became an extended part of our family. We send Christmas cards every year and visit the NICU every chance we get. We will forever be grateful to the NICU, because of them We have our daughter.

Miracle Walk at UCONN

Today Gary, Becca and I attended the Miracle Walk at UCONN. It was a fashion show put on by the students to raise money for Children's Miracle Network and ultimately for Connecticut Children's Medical Center. I'm not sure of the dollar amount raised, but I know I spoke to a full house and at $5 for students and $10 for non-students there was a good amount raised today! There were also 2 shows today... we spoke at the 1:30 pm show there was also a 4 pm show. All money raised today will be added to the dollar amount that is raised at the Huskython in 3 weeks. I can not wait to hear the final tally... last year the Huskython raised $108k and this year I think they will blow that number right out of the water!
4 stores were showcased, Pink, by Victoria Secret (they actually have a line just for UCON), Ciao Bella, Kid Dangerous, and Trenz Boutique. All the clothes were amazing and the models were gorgeous! The whole event was very well organized. I was so happy that our little family could be a part of something so big! Adam stayed home and Memere baby sat. :) It was so nice to only worry about one kid! As I was speaking about being told we could take Becca home .... I started crying.( As soon as I was told that Becca could come home I quickly took off her leads and any wires that were attached to her. While I did that I sang "I got no strings to tie me down."...... from Pinocchio.) That's when the crying started on stage ... what did my Becca bean do? She walked up to me and wiped the tears from my eyes. She is the best little girl I could have ever hoped for. She has a big heart just like her Mama :)
We met many incredible people who worked very hard to make the show happen today. Thanks to Andrew Sullivan, he came up with the concept and worked really hard for today. Thanks to Julie ... she was wonderful to us and was a sweetheart! There were so many students that we met it was hard to keep names straight. Thanks to UCONN for helping Children's Miracle Network and CT Children's.
it means so much to us that we were able to participate in such a great event! Becca did get to walk the runway after the show... All I have to say is... wow! She even posed when she got to the end! i joked that next year they had to find a kids store to participate ..... Becca would love to model :)

Year End

I'm so Thankful for this year. Children's Miracle Network and CT Children's Medical Center have been incredible to us. I find it amazing that many of the families we met have no idea how they have changed our lives. I will never, ever take Adam or Rebecca's health for granted. A healthy child is such a gift that sadly not all parents get.

Becca has learned that no matter what a person looks like on the outside, they are the the same as her on the inside. That is a life lesson that unfortunately not everyone learns. I'm so proud of my little 6 year old!

Many people will ask me how I handled Becca being so sick for so long, I think in many ways our "ordeal" was easier. Becca was a newborn and will never remember what she went through, I didn't have to explain to my child that she was sick and I didn't have to answer her questions. How did Gary and I pull through seeing our tiny one pound baby Becca so sick? We had a wonderful family and friends did anything we needed to support us and Becca had wonderful nurses and Doctors that helped us through. I cannot say enough about the staff at CT Children's Medical Center (CCMC)! The most important answer to how we got through it.... We did for Becca! When your child is sick or hurt they need you! They need you to be strong and to be their biggest support system. There is nothing more important in life than your child!

We will forever remember the children that we met this year, each one of them holds a very special place in my heart. I admire all the parents of these children! To the parents of a sick or severely injured child, my heart goes out to you. I can not imagine anything harder to go through. It's not an easy road by any means, but some of us do have to go through it.

To Children's Miracle Network, Walmart, Sam's club and all of the other sponsors Thank You! This year has been incredible and went by much to quickly! The trip we had was fantastic and a dream come true! To CT Children's Medical Center and NICU staff.... Thank You from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to you, I have a healthy 6 year old! Honestly 6 years ago I didn't know if that would be the case! Thank You, Thank, You, Thank You!

Toy Drive 2009

Walmart stores across CT had toy drives to benefit CT Children's Medical Center through out the month of December. Sadly all of them, but one were while Becca was in school. Christmas Eve was the last toy drive at the Wallingford store. Becca had no school that day so we went. Becca brought a toy. I really want her to learn to give back to CCMC, they have done do much for us! Many CT pageant winners were there to help pass out fliers and promote the hospital. Becca was crowned by one of them... I really need to ask Scott her name. We had a blast! Becca passed out fliers and people donating seemed to really enjoy meeting Becca. Thanks to all who donated to the toy drive, the toys went to a really great cause!

This had been an incredible year, I can not believe that it's over! Thank you to CT Children's Medical Center and Scott for picking Becca to be the champion in 2009, Thank You to Children's Miracle Network, and Thank you to Walmart and Sam's club for sponsoring our amazing trip!

Teddy Bear Tea for CCMC!

Today we went to an event for CCMC (CT Children's Medical Center) not as the Champion Family, but as supporters of CCMC. Max Downtown hosted an event called Teddy Bear Tea. Money raised went to CCMC. It was great. Every child was given a bear with their name on it as a place card. They had a woman going around offering the kids temporary tattoos. There was a Guy in costume walking around and talking to the kids... yes talking ... that was a first for us...usually the characters don't talk LOL. The adults were given packs of tea to take home and enjoy. Becca loved the cinnamon tea she chose. The sugar was dyed pink, purple and green. The PB&J sandwiches were bear shaped and different colors. We ate finger sandwiches and scones and tiny little desserts, everything that would could imagine for a tea party. It was wonderful. The kids that attended were asked to bring a toy to donate to children at CCMC. Becca brought two board games. I love being able to combine fun and learning in the same event! It's good for her to learn to give back to the hospital that gave her so much!!!! It's funny because many people on the wait staff, knew Becca when we walked in. (This was not their first CCMC event) Becca still does not understand why people want to talk to her or why they know her name and story. She always seems shocked and almost shy when people talk to her. For those that know Becca personally.... we all know that she is not shy! he he he All the little girls were dressed to the nines! Becca loves to dress up!
This was an incredible event and I'm so happy that we were able to go and spend a great afternoon with the girls (My Mom and sisters Wendy and Sara) and raise money for CCMC at the same time. I hope they do it next year and this becomes a Christmas tradition!

Big D 102.9 DRC Radiothon

September 3,4 and 5 was the radio thon. I found myself constantly listening to the radio fascinated with all the families stories. Becca, Gary and I were interviewed and on air Sat. for the NICU hour. Just from a few family members and Gary and I, we were able to donate $400. My goal is to raise $1000.00 for next year. I answered phone from 1-4. Of course I did have to take a few brakes. Jerry Kristopher did get me crying when I was answering calls. He came over to the phone bank and asked, "Where do you think your daughter would be without CCMC." I answered truthfully, I don't think we would have here. CCMC is an incredible hospital that has done so much for our family. How do you Thank the Doctors and Nurses that saved you daughters' life on so many occasions that I have lost count. I can not even put into words how it feels when you watch your tiny daughter stop breathing and watch the Nurses, usually Kathy come running and have to "bag" your daughter to get her to start breathing again. You feel helpless and scared and you try not to think about it. If you stop and think about it while it's happening you have a melt down. God Bless all that work in CCMC. Everyone on staff is amazing! I'm proud to say that over $229k was raised and the past record was blown out of the water! Thank You to all who donated and to all who worked on it!