Friday, April 20, 2012
The 2nd Pierce Allan Helms Memorial
This years event was such a blessing. For the Soccer tournament asspect...Brandon Soccer League had over 107 teams come to play. "Saving Little Hearts one kick at a time." That is exactly what they were doing. Helping make a difference in memory of Pierce. At the dinner we had Dr. Salizar speak and many other heart families give their testimony. SOOOO many silent auction items were donated this year. It was so wonderful going out to my mail box and having so many packages from people outside of Mississippi wanting to make a difference for our Childrens hospital.
At the time when Pierce was born, there was not a doctor in the state of Mississippi that could help Pierce, so flying to DC and Little Rock was all that we could do and it was so hard being away from home, my other children and Support.
Now after Pierces journey we have Doctors in Mississippi and a wonderful heart program. I often wonder what if they had been here just six months sooner. But as any grieven mother, I think that is normal to wonder "what if." I do know that Pierce helped make a difference and continues to. All the proceeds raised from the tournament and dinner goes to Batson's Cardiology Dept.
My how time has gone by.
I was riding in the car today with my daughter. We heard the song "Streets of Heaven" by Shriee Austin. It brought back so many memories of Pierce and my journey. I can remember all of those bed side night tug a war with God. Thinking back of Pierce fighting for his life. That was such a heard journey to see your new born baby going through so much and still not ever able to hold them and comfort them. I had started writing a book of my journey with Pierce. I had stoped because for me to think so deep and back and put myself in that place again always would leave me in tears. I would cry and cry thinking of what he went through and what I went through. I have decided this summer after I graduate. I am going to finish that book. I have always shared Pierces journey to promote awarness, but his journey was much more then awarness. God made so many miricals happen. So many things that Gods glory needs to shine through his story. Also to help encourage many other heart families that come along. I never lost my faith but I did become weak. I never once gave up on God through my journey, nor did I get angry at God. I hope that when I finish this book that it will bless the heart world community and parents of heart children and bring them closer to God. My little Pierce lost his battle to CHD at three months old. But in those short three months his journey blessed me in more words can explaine. It was be a shame to not share it with others. So that they can learn to train their eyes to see Gods glory during hard time.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Pierce Allan Helms Memorial 2012
As I sit and look through pictures of Pierce, this one makes me remember what we went through and what our other heart children have gone through or will. It is that time of year again. The Pierce Allan Helms memorial 2012. The dinner this year will be at Brandon High School. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the blood drive will start at 4 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door. We will be having dinner, music, speakers from Batson Cardiac unit and our silent auction. All proceeds got to Batson Hospital Cardiac Unit.
Two years ago, Batson did not have the medical resources that we needed in Mississippi to take care of Pierce. We flew from Mississippi to Washington D.C. then to Little Rock. It was so hard to leave my other three children at home for three months, and be away from chruch, family and friends that I truley needed during that journey. I am proud to say that Since then, Batson Hospital now has 2 cardiac surgeons and Huge medical team, ECMO teams and now have completed the heart transplant unit. Its amazing to see the changes since Pierce was born. Honestly, it brings tears to my eyes, wondering why this all could not have been here for Pierce? I do know that Pierce's journey helped make these changes in our childrens hospital. The work that we continue to do and efforts to raise money for our childrens hospital will only help it to grow and become even better.
I often remind my friends that Batson Hospital is our ONLY childrens hospital in Mississippi. That as I am out selling tickets to the dinner and collecting silent auction items, all the proceeds go to our ONLY childrens hospital. Last year we raised over $5000.00. We had 82 teams from all over Mississippi come to play in the soccer tournament. The title of the tournament was "Saving Hearts one Kick At A Time." and that is exactly what we did. We had over 200 people attend the dinner last year. 26 people donated blood and 9 became organ donors. I am hoping this year we will see those numbers grow.
I am looking forward to the tournament and dinner this year. seeing new faces and meeting new people. Spreading CHD awarness and letting people know what the journeys are like for our heart children and most of all helping Batson Hospital continue to grow and become bigger and better, in order to help our children.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Praying Hearts of Mississippi
Be still and Know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
This scripture was a very strong scripture that I held onto during my journey with Pierce. I can remember the day in December that we were facing emergency surgery, and I was so scared of his chances to come through it. I went to go and update my Caringbridge page and ask for prayers. For some reason, I decided to look at my devotional first. The title of that days devotional was "There is no panic in Heaven only plans." It spoke numbers to me. It was almost like God speaking through that devotion to me. This is a short copy of the devotion that I read that day.
You see, God always has a plan. God is never static. God is always moving, and God always knows precisley what He is going to do. "There is no panic in Heaven, only plans." God is not walking back and forth ringing His hands asking, did I mess up, did I make a mistake. What am I going to do now? There is no panic in Heaven, only plans. Gods plans are to bless this world. God wants to use you to bless this world. The question is, are YOU going to allow God to use you? My friend, you must remember to "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10.
Wow!!! Just reading that again reminds me of that moment, sitting in a small cubical, by myself in Arkansas. I cried and cried, because I was scared. I was scared that I was going to lose Pierce, I was scared of what the future was going to hold for me. I was scared that God allowed me to read that devotion for a reason to prepare me that I was going to lose Pierce for a bigger and better plan that He had for him. God knew my wants for Pierce and that I wanted him in my life, but I have also learned that sometimes, our wants are not always Gods plans. I knew at that moment that I HAD TO GIVE IT ALL TO GOD. That it was out of my hands. I had to completely allow God to be in complete control. Now, was that easy? Not at all, but what other choices did I have? I loved God and I loved God then. That is where the scripture came into play with my journey and life. From that moment on, it seemed like so many people from all over the world started praying for Pierce. I received letters and packages from Africa, Australia, and so many states in the U.S. It was amazing! It gave me so much strength and helped me to keep going for Pierce. I needed that strength, because even as strong as I was in my FAITH with God I was getting weak.
Since being back home I have founded a new support group for our heart families. I thought hard about this and if this is what God was wanting me to do. The one thing that our families need the most is prayers. They need support, and christian encouragement. Praying Hearts was formed to offer this to families. We have a face book page started presently. Families are able to share a photo of their child and their story. They are able to open up and ask for prayers from this group of christian friends. People that just want to be a prayer warrior are able to share a photo and where they are from. I am in the process of collecting donations of inspirational books, devotions, and bibles to mail to these families that are in the hospital. I also continue to share my story and scripture of Be still and know that I am God, with anyone that I can. I just want to give back to families, a little of what God gave me during my journey and through Praying Hearts, I can.
This scripture was a very strong scripture that I held onto during my journey with Pierce. I can remember the day in December that we were facing emergency surgery, and I was so scared of his chances to come through it. I went to go and update my Caringbridge page and ask for prayers. For some reason, I decided to look at my devotional first. The title of that days devotional was "There is no panic in Heaven only plans." It spoke numbers to me. It was almost like God speaking through that devotion to me. This is a short copy of the devotion that I read that day.
You see, God always has a plan. God is never static. God is always moving, and God always knows precisley what He is going to do. "There is no panic in Heaven, only plans." God is not walking back and forth ringing His hands asking, did I mess up, did I make a mistake. What am I going to do now? There is no panic in Heaven, only plans. Gods plans are to bless this world. God wants to use you to bless this world. The question is, are YOU going to allow God to use you? My friend, you must remember to "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10.
Wow!!! Just reading that again reminds me of that moment, sitting in a small cubical, by myself in Arkansas. I cried and cried, because I was scared. I was scared that I was going to lose Pierce, I was scared of what the future was going to hold for me. I was scared that God allowed me to read that devotion for a reason to prepare me that I was going to lose Pierce for a bigger and better plan that He had for him. God knew my wants for Pierce and that I wanted him in my life, but I have also learned that sometimes, our wants are not always Gods plans. I knew at that moment that I HAD TO GIVE IT ALL TO GOD. That it was out of my hands. I had to completely allow God to be in complete control. Now, was that easy? Not at all, but what other choices did I have? I loved God and I loved God then. That is where the scripture came into play with my journey and life. From that moment on, it seemed like so many people from all over the world started praying for Pierce. I received letters and packages from Africa, Australia, and so many states in the U.S. It was amazing! It gave me so much strength and helped me to keep going for Pierce. I needed that strength, because even as strong as I was in my FAITH with God I was getting weak.
Since being back home I have founded a new support group for our heart families. I thought hard about this and if this is what God was wanting me to do. The one thing that our families need the most is prayers. They need support, and christian encouragement. Praying Hearts was formed to offer this to families. We have a face book page started presently. Families are able to share a photo of their child and their story. They are able to open up and ask for prayers from this group of christian friends. People that just want to be a prayer warrior are able to share a photo and where they are from. I am in the process of collecting donations of inspirational books, devotions, and bibles to mail to these families that are in the hospital. I also continue to share my story and scripture of Be still and know that I am God, with anyone that I can. I just want to give back to families, a little of what God gave me during my journey and through Praying Hearts, I can.
Friday, July 8, 2011
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