For as many years as he can remember, Lt. Mike DeBoer of the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority has responded in the affirmative when asked to escort one of the youngsters modeling in the Little Hearts Luncheon and Fashion Show.
This year, the gig was intensely personal because one of the participants was his 17-year-old daughter, Kendra.
Kendra, a senior at Legend High School in Parker, had recently undergone a trans-catheter procedure that created a small burn on the inner wall of her heart to cure an abnormal cardiac rhythm.
Her speedy recovery, noted show narrator Kim Christiansen, was influenced by her love for volleyball. Christiansen said that while Kendra was being prepped for surgery, she encouraged the medical team to move things along.
“Let’s get this over with so I can get back on the volleyball court,” Kendra told them. Three days later she was playing in an all-day tournament with her team.
Twenty-eight children — the majority of whom are heart patients — modeled outfits from Dillard’s in the event chaired by Lyn Schaffer and held at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. Escorts included cardiologists, heart surgeons, firefighters and 10 pooches from the Children’s Hospital Colorado Prescription Pet Program.
The Anna and John J. Sie Foundation was the show’s presenting sponsor and Dr. Fran Hickey, medical director at the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome and the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, both of which are located at Children’s, was there to escort one of his patients, 5-year-old Claire Moos of Sterling, and her sister, Bridgette.
Colorado’s former first lady, Frances Owens, the community relations director for arc Thrift of Colorado, was the escort for 8-year-old Maya Ramirez of Denver. Born with a congenital heart defect, Maya keeps a positive attitude by reciting her favorite saying, “All better now!”
Proceeds from the $70-a-ticket event go to the patient assistance fund at the Children’s Colorado Heart Institute.
“Food, lodging, education and transportation — (they can spend it on) anything to make their time at the Heart Institute a little less stressful,” Schaffer said.
The 400 guests included Robin Roggensack, president of the hospital’s Association of Volunteers; Dr. James Jaggers, chief of pediatric cardiac surgery; Kristina Davidson; Gail Johnson; Adrienne Ruston Fitzgibbons; Ken Proch; Steve Edmonds; Helga Ragsdale; Irene Zimmer; and Susie Hummell.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or
