Michael’s Story began from the humbling journey of parents with a child born with a life-threatening heart defect. Michael spent his first year of life in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit supported by tubes, monitoring equipment, and medical staff. This unfamiliar situation found the family overshadowed with fearful thoughts that included would he live, would he ever come home. Amidst it all, the power of prayer and hope prevailed. He came home, they continue to hope, fight, and plan for him to live as they continue to learn on- the-job coping mechanisms for Michael’s day-to-day needs.

Brave little Hearts for Michael and Friends was founded October 2015 following the year-long stay that Michael Richard Winchester endured in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Michael was born with Congenital Heart Disease and every day of his life was a gift. The organization was birthed as a result of the family’s experience of living at the hospital and doing all they could to get their baby home. Michael finally went home just shy of his first birthday. Michael was blessed with a Mom (Naomi) who knew how to advocate in every way for her son. There was no medical term that she did not seek to understand and no medical personnel that she would not challenge. Naomi and her husband William moved a mountain to get Michael home and in a short time Michael blossomed.

The family prepared for the scheduling of shift nurses who may not show; over-abundance of medical equipment orders and round-the-clock essential survival needs and care. These matters of life dominated the livelihood of every member of the household. Planned and unplanned visits to the hospital, surgeries, flexibility in planning for any and every seen and unforeseen event, are the new norm for the mother, the father, the grandmother, and the small siblings. Michael’s family soon learned that life will never be the same.

The impact of this new way of life for families can prove overwhelming and catastrophic. Many families may feel such hopelessness and despair that has led some to abandon their child at the hospital out of love due to lack of skills, resources, and know how to provide proper care at home. Michael’s family learned what it takes on the long road home and committed themselves to sharing and supporting others who found themselves on this unfamiliar path.

Unfortunately, Michael’s heart could not handle the stress of his last open heart surgery and he passed on March 6, 2017 just a couple weeks shy of his 3rd birthday. Michael was a happy baby and brightened the day of everyone he touched. Please help us continue Michael’s legacy of fighting against the odds and brightening the day of those children and families that feel like they are hopeless.

In memory of Michael Richard Croix Winchester, the Pennsylvania State Legislature declared March 6, 2018 to be Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Day to promote awareness of this often fatal heart defect.

DESIGNER BINGO - 11th Annual Fundraiser

Brave little Hearts for Michael and Friends