Family & Friends,
We hope this message finds you doing well and enjoying all of the special moments in your lives! Every year, as we prepare this letter, it is an opportunity to reflect on the moments that have stood out for us in the previous 12 months.
As the “children” in our family progress into their “adult” lives, we have enjoyed seeing the paths they each take as they find their way. Charlie is living in Madison; Kirsten and Danielle live in Beaver Dam; and Amelia is going to school in La Crosse, which keeps everyone close enough to get together often, which is a blessing that we treasure.
One special highlight from the last year is Kirsten being nominated for the Madison “Woman of Impact” campaign in the spring. As part of the “Go Red for Women” activities, this national event has been going on for years. However, 2025 was the first time that Madison, WI hosted its own campaign. After setting a goal of $15,000 for their first year, the Madison nominees, as a team, raised $45,307 for the American Heart Association! We are so proud of the role that Kirsten played in that success, and we thank each of you who supported her by donating to that event.
Our family has enjoyed a relatively calm period, medically speaking. Danielle has only had routine check-ups this year, and Amelia has not had any follow-ups with her specialists, due to how well things are going! It is wonderful NOT to have any significant medical updates to offer, and we appreciate every year that is the case. As part of celebrating that peaceful status, and how many resources have been available to our girls in order to reach that point, we continue to support the American Heart Association. We ask you to consider making a donation in honor of Danielle and Amelia, or in honor of anyone in your own lives who is also benefiting from the amazing work the AHA does. We are participating in the 2025 Madison Area Heart Walk on Saturday, September 13 = only four weeks from the date that we are writing this message! We are again walking with the UW-Health Congenital Heart Warriors Team. It is wild to think about this, but 2025 will be our 23rd year of the Heart Walk!
In 2024, our friends and family blew us away, donating $7198.49 and bringing our 22-year total to $71,225.54! THANK YOU hardly seems like enough!! Continuing to aim high, and relying on your support, we have set this year's goal at $7200! Please consider helping us reach this goal! If you plan to donate, please know that all levels of support, and all amounts of donations, are appreciated. As always, we continue to believe - together we WILL make a difference!
David, Shelley, Charlie, Kirsten, Danielle, & Amelia