Community Corner

Mom's Challenge Inspires Organization for CHD Support, Awareness

Danielle McKain lived at the hospital for a year while her son had several surgeries to treat his congenital heart disease. She started the organization Jameson's Army to help other families in similar situations. Sponsored by Post Grape-Nuts.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.

Facing the Challenge

In many ways, 2 1/2-year-old Jameson is a typical boy. He's a fan of just about all sports, and he loves cars. And he also loves to eat.

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But he was born with a condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HPLS), which essentially means that little Jameson was missing the left side of his heart. He had his first open heart surgery at 5 days old. Four more surgeries and a successful heart transplant later—six operations total—Jameson will always need medical attention but has recovered well thus far.

Still, for Jameson's parents, Patrik and Danielle, and his big brother, Colin, the year that Jameson had most of his surgeries was very tough.

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"People ask me, you know, 'How did you do it?'" Danielle McKain said. "But as anybody who is a parent would understand: This is my child. Yeah, I was tired, exhausted, drained, everything—ulcered, stressed, living at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh for a whole year.

"And that's terrible, but you don't have a choice. There's no other way."

Through that year, Danielle considers herself fortunate that the family is from the city because her mother and mother-in-law were nearby and friends could come by and sit with her son while Danielle took a run and got some fresh air. Danielle also got homecooked meals, freshly laundered clothes and a bunch of other support that she knew that other families, especially those from out of town, did not have.

So Danielle; her husband, Patrik; and family friend Jenna Zeh started an organization to raise support for their families and awareness of congenital heart disease (CHD)—Jameson's Army.

Finding the Inspiration

Danielle McKain had to resign from her job to take care of Jameson, but she knows that other families don't have that option.

"I talked to my husband and my friend and said, 'This is overwhelming,'" Danielle recalled. "This is overwhelming families down there that have to leave their kids (at the hospital) because they have to work. Your mortgage doesn't stop because your kid is sick."

And the families who were able to stay at the hospital would have to eat in the cafeteria for every meal, for days on end, and have to buy little items that could get expensive over time, like bottled water and laundry detergent. Jameson's Army provides some support and comfort; the organization has even helped to pay utility bills.

"Just things like that do what we can do to help their families," Danielle said. "I can't promise to cure their child, but at least, I can help make their stay as comfortable as possible."

Reaching for the Goal

Since its inception in 2012, Jameson's Army has amassed about 2,000 "soldiers"—that is, volunteers who have joined the fight—and has eight board members plus five on its auxiliary board.

The Army also raises funds for families affected by CHD and has hosted fundraisers, including a 5,000-meter run and a star-studded gala. The organization has also garnered at least a dozen awards since its founding.

And Danielle doesn't believe that being a part of the organization is just something nice to do. She believes that it's something that she's supposed to do.

"I'm lucky that I learned my purpose," Danielle said. "Some people go their whole lives wondering why God put them here. It took me 30 years to figure it out, but I know my purpose.

"I'm here to take care of my two sons and be a huge advocate for CHD awareness," she continued. "And to be an advocate for families going through what we went through."

Read more: Cecil Family Creates an Army

Fundraiser Planned for Cecil Family

Jameson's Army on Facebook


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