Hustle for Hope 5K - Walk, Run, Roll

April is HIE Awareness month. For most, HIE is an unfamiliar term. For our family, it’s deeply personal. In November of 2024, Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy changed our lives forever. 

Our Catherine was born urgently via emergency c-section. When she entered the world she was struggling to breathe. She immediately was intubated and had to be taken to the NICU. We were told Catherine had a "brain injury" when she was born caused by oxygen deprivation during birth. Catherine was diagnosed with HIE.  HIE can result in a wide range of outcomes and often leads to subsequent diagnoses, including Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and many developmental and learning challenges. Catherine was placed on a cooling mat for cooling therapy that put her into a hypothermic state for 72 hours as a treatment to minimize the effects of her brain injury. Catherine spent 7 days in the NICU following her birth to receive this treatment and be monitored for any other concerns. Thankful at this point she is doing so well and is blowing away our doctors and us as she meets new milestones and lives her best HIERO life everyday! We are so blessed to have had the cooling treatment and resources to continue to treat our daughter and continue to learn more about HIE as she grows.

In honor of HIE Awareness Month, we want to recognize Hope for HIE, a non-profit organization  that is dedicated to supporting families affected by HIE through education, awareness, and support. We were handed materials immediately upon Catherine's diagnosis in the NICU from HOPE for HIE that connected us to education and resources as we started our journey as a family affected by HIE.  Every dollar raised will go directly to Hope for HIE, helping to fund critical resources, educational programs, and support networks for families like ours. Whether you join us , donate, or simply help spread the word, your support means everything to us.