Hi, I am JJ Harrington and I go to Breck. My journey with Children's started when I was only five days old and I was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. When I was five weeks old I had my first open-heart surgery. However, after this surgery, the doctors realized I was still failing to thrive and would need a second surgery. I had my second heart surgery at 8 months old, the day after my surgery I was up alert in my bed playing as my parents had never seen before. Children's Hospital is not only an important place for me but also all the other kids that the hospital keeps safe and healthy every day. When I was old enough to understand the impact Children's had on my health, I looked for any possible way for me to give back. When I realized I could be in an event as amazing as the Star Gala, I jumped at the opportunity and knew it was something I needed to be involved in. I could not be more thankful for being involved in this event for the past four years. As this is my last year to be involved in this event before I go to college, it would mean the world to me if you helped Lauren and me out with any amount big or small. 

This year, the Star Gala is focused on the neonatology unit at Children's. The neonatology unit specializes in helping ill newborns, generally premature. This program provides the help to leap towards working hearts and lungs so a healthy baby gets the opportunity to flourish. 

My name is Lauren Smith. I’m seventeen (soon to be eighteen) years old and am a current senior at The Blake School in Minneapolis. Last year, I was diagnosed with 2A Hodgkin's Lymphoma. For those that don’t know, Hodgkin’s is 92% curable when treated with chemotherapy. After undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy and spending the majority of my junior year of high school at Children’s I naturally formed an eternal bond with this place I called home for 6 months. In February of last year, I had my final treatment and was pronounced CANCER FREE!

Now, I go for the occasional check up, obviously not spending the amount of time there I did last year. Although, it’s been a year I’ll never forget the confort I had during my time at Children’s. I spent the most time there when I was most sick and most vulnerable; but so much of this unease would vanish when I stepped on the eighth floor. So much of that confort came from the little familiarities like seeing my favorite nurse Deb or having that picturesque view of the skyline from my room. 

One of the hardest parts of going through treatment was not feeling like I was a normal teenager. Of course, the teen room on the oncology floor gave me the illusion that I was in my basement at home just watching a movie and provided a much needed non-parents zone. While still in treatment last year, JJ told me about this group that was designated with the task to raise money for the annual gala held for the hospital. Obviously, I was instantly on board. To have the opportunity to give back to this amazing place that has not only helped me but so many others has been a privilege. I ask you to please help me in giving back to this incredible place. Any donation at all can have the biggest impact, thank you!