As a Pediatric nurse I have had the opportunity to see how important Happy Wheels is to a child in the hospital. But , now as a mother of one of those kids, the joy that a Happy Wheels visit brings is indescribable. I never imagined I would experience Happy Wheels as a nurse and as a mom but that all changed in 2019 when Luke was just 10 days old. He contracted the enterovirus and developed myocarditis. Luke's little heart was failing and he was going to have a really tough road ahead. Fast forward to 2022, Luke is happy, full of sass and very strong willed, but his heart is sicker than ever. Luke is highly listed on the heart transplant list and our last hospital admission, in March, was a tough one. I will never forget the expression on Luke's face when he picked out a Wheels on the Bus book from the Happy Wheels cart. He was so excited that he had the chance to choose a prize and we had to have read that book at least ten times that afternoon. Please consider donating to Happy Wheels to help put a smile on a child's face, like Luke, who needs a mid day pick me up! 
 

2023 Update!!! Luke was admitted to MUSC, in Charleston, in June of 2022. He had an external LVAD placed (Berlin Heart) to help keep him alive and act as a bridge to transplant. He celebrated his 3rd birthday in July, while in the ICU, and then had his second open heart surgery in August of 2022 to revise his LVAD placement. Then we waited and waited and waited. Happy Wheels came every week and stopped by his room. They quickly learned that he had a new love for Super Hero's and they always seemed to find the PERFECT toy for him. Then in December, after his big brother asked Santa to bring Luke a new heart for Christmas, we got the news! There was a perfect new heart for Luke! On December 9th, Luke received his new heart and has been unstoppable ever since!! We moved home in January and have been adjusting to our new lives with our new Luke! 

Update from 2024: Luke started kindergarten with his new heart in August of 2024! He had a wild ride with minor rejection and a whole lot of illnesses due to being immunosuppressed. Luke had a few minor surgeries and procedures during the year and he was fortunate to stay out of the hospital for the most part ! We are still forever grateful for the smiles that Happy Wheels brings to kids like Luke! Having a complex medical history comes with lots of ups and downs even after receiving his heart transplant and the generosity of Happy Wheels will be forever appreciated!