Alyssa's Hike for the Heart

Change of plans...Alyssa's Hike for the Hearts - 2010

by Sarah Calaway on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 9:04am

Good Morning, Everyone:

  I just wanted to let you know that after MUCH prayer and deliberation, we will be canceling the 6th Annual Hike for the Hearts. It's been a very difficult decision, but due to difficulty in securing our normal corporate sponsors and with the crazy economy, I think it's best to let it rest this year. With all that said, we are still collecting funds to split between Viral Myocarditis Research at the Cleveland Clinic Children's hospital and Camperships to Camp Carl for school-aged kiddos. Please send your gifts to "Alyssa's Hike for the Hearts", PO Box 42, Tallmadge, OH 44278.

  I want everyone to know how much we appreciate all the love, support, and prayers over the past 8 years since Alyssa went home to be with Jesus. I don't know how our family could have continued without all of you. We still think of her every hour of every day and will continue to honor her memory through helping with the research we feel is so necessary and the camperships to bring other children to God.

  Our theme this year -- and every year -- is "2 hearts and 1 hope". Without hope in a future with Jesus Christ, our efforts are in vain and our daughter's life would be gone. But because of our hope, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Alyssa's heart is beating strongly with the Lord and Saviour she loves so much. I hope her little life will continue to inspire others to have simple faith as a child so that the promise of eternal life can bring peace and hope to those who hurt! Thank you all so much for your encouragement and for your friendship and support.... it means everything to my family and to me.

Gratefully yours,
Sarah Calaway

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Alyssa Ann Calaway

was a beautiful bright little lady who grew up in Akron, Ohio. She was and still is loved by her parents, family and friends, and easily won the hearts of those who knew her.

On September 12, 2002, Alyssa died very suddenly of what we found out later to be Viral Myocarditis. Other than flu-like symptoms immediately preceding her death, there were no outward signs that would indicate that anything was wrong with Alyssa. She was 8½ years old.

Her death has left us incredibly grief-stricken and heartbroken. There is a place in our hearts that will be empty until we are with her again in Heaven.

The Aftermath

We came in contact with Dr. Arruda of the Cleveland Center for Pediatric & Congenital Heart Diseases at Children's Hospital, Cleveland Clinic. She has helped care for our two remaining children and was so kind to help us understand just what Viral Myocarditis is. Having learned that Viral Myocarditis is a common cause of sudden death in children, we felt we had to do something.

We have organized a hike at Goodyear Heights Metropark in Akron, Ohio where Alyssa frequently hiked with her family, in order to raise money for two purposes:

The funds from this year's event will be directed towards research for Viral Myocarditis at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital and Dr. Gerard Boyle and Dr. M. Janine Arruda. The hospital has already begun preliminary research on how to define the early symptoms of Viral Myocarditis that patients may have when they go to emergency rooms. This study will pinpoint which signs and symptoms should elicit further testing (X-rays, ECG's and lab tests) so that an early diagnosis of myocarditis can be made. The Children's Hospital plans to partner with other area hospitals for this study as well, which will help raise physician awareness to the warning signs of myocarditis.
A fund dedicated to sending grade school children to Camp Carl - a place Alyssa never got to visit herself, but wanted to.

Thank you for your interest in supporting this very important cause and for positively impacting the lives of children and their families.

Sarah & Steve Calaway
Alyssa's Mom and Dad

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	Alyssa Ann Calaway was a beautiful bright little lady who grew up in Akron, Ohio. She was and still is loved by her parents, family and friends, and easily won the hearts of those who knew her. On September 12, 2002, Alyssa died very suddenly of what we found out later to be Viral Myocarditis. Other than flu-like symptoms immediately preceding her death, there were no outward signs that would indicate that anything was wrong with Alyssa. She was 8½ years old. Her death has left us incredibly grief-stricken and heartbroken. There is a place in our hearts that will be empty until we are with her again in Heaven. The Aftermath We came in contact with Dr. Arruda of the Cleveland Center for Pediatric & Congenital Heart Diseases at Children's Hospital, Cleveland Clinic. She has helped care for our two remaining children and was so kind to help us understand just what Viral Myocarditis is. Having learned that Viral Myocarditis is a common cause of sudden death in children, we felt we had to do something. We have organized a hike at Goodyear Heights Metropark in Akron, Ohio where Alyssa frequently hiked with her family, in order to raise money for two purposes: The funds from this year's event will be directed towards research for Viral Myocarditis at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital and Dr. Gerard Boyle and Dr. M. Janine Arruda. The hospital has already begun preliminary research on how to define the early symptoms of Viral Myocarditis that patients may have when they go to emergency rooms. This study will pinpoint which signs and symptoms should elicit further testing (X-rays, ECG's and lab tests) so that an early diagnosis of myocarditis can be made. The Children's Hospital plans to partner with other area hospitals for this study as well, which will help raise physician awareness to the warning signs of myocarditis. A fund dedicated to sending grade school children to Camp Carl - a place Alyssa never got to visit herself, but wanted to. Thank you for your interest in supporting this very important cause and for positively impacting the lives of children and their families. Sarah & Steve Calaway Alyssa's Mom and Dad