The Experience: There’s no way to communicate what the Rady’s team means to us. The ICU is scary. You don’t want to be there. But somehow, these amazing people helped normalize it for us and we felt safe in their care. We knew they were advocating for us, and that they truly cared about Blake. 

The Mission: Since Rady Children’s first opened its doors in 1954, their mission has been to restore, sustain and enhance the health and developmental potential of children through excellence in care, education, research and advocacy. 

Blake spent his time in the 30-bed Acute Cardiac Unit of Rady Children’s Heart Institute, which provides cardiac inpatient care for people of all ages (from newborns to adults) with congenital or acquired heart disease. It is a unique space within the Hospital solely devoted to all levels of inpatient cardiac care, from admission to discharge, with a focus on family-centered care. Staffed by critical care cardiac physicians, advanced practitioners and nurses, 24 hours a day, the CVICU cares for cardiology and cardiovascular surgery patients when they are most critically ill. Many patients are admitted to the unit within hours of being born.

The Ask: If you are interested in giving back to an organization that brings hope to thousands, saves children’s lives and touches hearts every single day…please consider a donation in honor of Blake, or your loved one. For more information, click here: www.radyfoundation.org/tributegifts