Jump Rope for Heart

I'm going to have to break up this post into a few posts so as to keep them a little shorter! I've had the last week off and that did not equal extra blog time but I had a great week off with my little guy. I have pictures to share with each post - I promise!

The Friday before school was off for Thanksgiving break, Evan's school participated in Jump Rope for Heart. Evan brought home the little flyer that asked kids to jump for other kids whose hearts aren't perfect. The flyer asked you who you were jumping for, I just smiled and wrote in - "myself". AHA had the same little website set up as they do for the Heart Walk to raise money. Since I felt like I had just asked all family and friends to donate for the walk I didn't send emails out like crazy and just told grandparents and of course Munc. On Evan's website I put the same picture and story as I did for the walk to make it easy. One of Evan's heart buddies is also a school buddy and his Mom had set his little webpage up the same way. We talked about how awesome it was they were doing Jump Rope for Heart and that we should let the boys wear their heart walk Team Brave Hearts shirts the day they jumped. I was in the carpool line the next day and the vp came up to the car and asked that I pull into a parking place. She had a smile on her face so I figured my angel had done no wrong! I pulled in and the PE teacher came walking with Evan. They said they had heard Evan had had heart surgery (gasp - heard about it - you better have read that book I wrote when I registered him, LOL) and would I have a little something they could read to the school and show them Jump Rope for Heart helps kids just like them - kids even in their own school. I said of course... told them we had worked with AHA for the last 5 years and that Caleb was also a heart kid and they are on a team called Team Brave Hearts and they have little shirts that say I'm a Survivor... yada yada yada. They were thrilled we were willing to participate and Evan and Caleb were excited to be introduced to the school as Heart Heroes. Caleb's Mom and I worked together and made a flyer with some of their picture on it and a kid version story of their walk with heart defects. Caleb's Mom and I came to the Pep Rally with cameras and camcorder ready and proud smiles on our faces. The pep rally began with Jump Rope for Heart hoorays. The PE teacher was called up and said she wanted to share a story and read the flyer and then told the kids that these 2 Heart Heroes were Falcon students and they began to cheer. Evan and Caleb stood up and walked to the front with their little arms linked. We stood with tears streaming at how awesome it was that our school would recognize them in such a way. Evan and Caleb said that they got "big applause." I think they both felt very special! Isn't that awesome?!? Enjoy the picture of the Falcon Heart Heroes.