Mikey’s Kids – The Mikey At Home Program

Two Saved With Mikey Defibrillators

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We’ve been informed that 2 more people, an infant and a high school student, have been given a second chance at life because a MIKEY (defibrillator) was available when they needed it.

Greenwood SSOn January 8, 2015, a 19 year old student at Greenwood S.S., in Toronto, went into cardiac arrest.

Their MIKEY was used and a pulse was established, and he was brought to the hospital for further treatment. No further details are available at this time.

 

 

On January 10, 2015, one of our newest Mikey’s Kids families needed to use their portable AED to save their infant, Archer. Archer’s parents happen to be paramedics, and his dad Sean, shared this on Twitter:

The MIKEY at Greenwood S.S. was placed through our Mikey Young At Heart School Defibrillator Program, and Archer’s MIKEY was given to them through our Mikey’s Kids program.

We are so grateful that there was a MIKEY available for Archer and at Greenwood S.S., and most importantly, that there were people prepared to use them.

There are now 23 people that been given a second chance at life because a MIKEY was available when they needed it!

A matter of the heart – Teen raises funds for public defibrillators

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Emily_MikeyHere’s an amazing story of friendship from Grimsby, Ontario that shows what can happen when a community comes together.

One of Mikey’s Kids, Emily Herbert, is at risk for cardiac arrest due to an inherited disease known as Brugada syndrome. Her friends watched how this diagnosis affected her whole family.

A family friend, Brenden Ruigrok, decided to throw a fundraiser for Emily, to give back to the organization that provided her with an AED – The Mikey Network! He organized a youth dance as a fundraiser.

“I wanted to help people like Emily,” said Ruigrok, who was trained on how to use the Mikey at age 11 along with the Herbert family. “I saw so many places in the community where people needed help I thought why not do something for somebody that I care about. Someone who I am close to.”

More than 100 kids showed up – including all of Emily’s friends of course. They raised over $1,200 for The Mikey Network.

You can read the whole story in the Grimsby Lincoln News online.

The Mikey’s Kids Program Gives Children Like Maranda, and their Families, Peace of Mind

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marandabeachWe received a lovely note from Crystal, the mom of one of our Mikey’s Kids, Maranda. Maranda is a very special and unique girl. She has an extremely rare disorder called Andersen-Tawil Syndrome. Only 100 people world wide have been diagnosed with the disorder since it was first discovered in 1967. The heart can be seriously affected, so Maranda needs a MIKEY, and we provided one through the Mikey’s Kids program.

Crystal wrote:

“We are finally heart safe! We are so grateful to have received an fully funded AED (automatic external defibrillator) courtesy of The Mikey Network – the beat gos on. What an amazing program that provides AEDs to families and organizations in need! And the most wonderful and simple application process and best customer service ever! Thank you for your help Morty! We feel so much safer and secure knowing we have an AED in our home and with Maranda at school and wherever she goes. Knowing your child is at risk for cardiac death is difficult, but this organization was bright spot of sunshine in our journey.”

“I just wanted to say thanks again for making a big part of our life easier. So many things are so difficult and so challenging. Many things have layers and layers of process and paperwork. Your organization was so streamlined and wonderful to deal with.”

Thank you so much for your kind words Crystal, and welcome to Team Mikey. We hope you never need to use your MIKEY,  but we’re so happy it’s there if you need it.

Maranda is a big fan of Rainbows.  She has a Facebook page – Maranda’s Rainbow Connection – where you can go to learn more about her and  Andersen-Tawil Syndrome, and leave her an encouraging word, or a picture of a rainbow. Maranda wishes for a rainbow from every person in the world! So please take a moment to send a rainbow to: Maranda’s Rainbow Connection c/o Shoppers Drug Mart 2028 Park St Regina, SK Canada S4N 2G6

 

One of Mikey’s Kids Got A Second Chance at Life

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We received the best kind of news today! One of our Mikey’s Kids families called to let us know we gave their toddler a second chance at life.

Through the Mikey’s Kids program, Families whose children are at high risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) are provided with a MIKEY, a portable automated external defibrillator (AED), to carry with them at all times so their kids are protected at home, school or play.

The family was able to use their MIKEY AED and bring their child to the hospital to receive treatment.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the family for a speedy recovery.

UPDATE:
The child’s father Craig, was kind enough to tell his story in the comments section below.

Craig and Jennifer Hansen were able to use their MIKEY on their  2 year old son Carter, who went into arrhythmia.  After delivering a shock he started breathing on his own again and they observed him and kept the AED on him until EMS arrived.

Craig, Jennifer and Carter Hansen A Mikey's Kids familyCarter was brought to SickKids Hospital for treatment and is now back at home with his parents.

Craig said,

“You guys gave us another chance with our son. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Mikey Network Chairman Hugh Heron said this about the Mikey’s Kids program,

“When a child has a serious cardiac problem, the family lives in constant fear, knowing the heart can skip a beat at any moment.  As a result, the child often has to stay close to home and/or a hospital.  The Mikey’s Kids program provides families with portable MIKEYS so these children can lead more normal lives.  The Mikey Network works with various organizations including Toronto’s SickKids Hospital, Ottawa’s Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Hamilton’s McMaster Children’s Hospital, to provide MIKEYS to families in need.”

We are truly humbled by Craig and Jennifer’s story and we pray  for Carter.  We hope this inspires every family to learn CPR, and every family with a baby to learn infant CPR.

It takes a community to help a child with heart problems…
Please help us place a MIKEY in the home of every family in need

 

Mikey’s Kids Recipient Is Profiled On Global TV News

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Global TV News aired a story about a family who received a “MIKEY” (Automatic External Defibrillator) through our Mikey’s Kids program.

The six year old boy has a condition called Long QT Syndrome and without his MIKEY close at hand, it would be too dangerous for him to enjoy many of the activities that most kids take for granted.

Through the Mikey’s Kid’s program, we supply MIKEYS and training to families whose children have serious heart conditions so they and their families can leave the hospital knowing that a MIKEY is at hand should their heart happen to skip a beat.