Super Caelen

As Caelen approaches his 4th Anniversary of transplant next Tuesday, I want to thank his donor’s family. We are forever grateful for their loving decision to save others in the midst of their sorrow.

A Gift from an Organ Donor brings New Life for someone desperately waiting for an Organ Transplant to save their life.

We honour and thank organ donors everywhere. Without their families agreeing lives would not, and will not be saved, so to all donor families we thank you for your strength. In the midst of your sadness you agreed to give life and hope toothers. The gift of life you have given so freely and in love is appreciated every day. Love lives on thanks to your courage and compassion. Thank you for your strength.

Please think about organ donation, talk about it, share your decisions and give hope.

Please about your decisions with your loved ones, say and register your decision at NHS Organ Donation

Caelen is on car #88 Please tune in to NBC / Peacock Sunday at 3:00 pm EST

Please tune in to NBC Peacock on Sept 21 at 3:00 pm. IMSA and AFCorse Official are racing for a wonderful cause - Camp Boggy Creek. Caelen’s handsome mug will be on car #88 . If you are able to donate in support of Boggy Creek, we would be so grateful.

The link to donate is here:

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.hatcherfoundation.org/resilient-racers__;!!O6GqoWc!GUb82jA0Nz3BWupNnC0Tntp1dBO-icrWtSN9WQvMlGGtfTFW3yCZrJa5YrDWin3_AxR57YXgBFm_zhURuD3wsCQ$

Happy Racing!!! 🏎️

Happy 16th Birthday Caelen 🥳

You had a fun weekend with your dad, sister and grandparents. You raced go karts and played arcade games, swam and built legos.

Next weekend you get to go smash things with your friends in a break room, and have a pizza party.

While we didn’t get to wake up under the same roof, I’m so grateful we get to fall asleep under one.

Wishing you a new year full of growth, friendships, laughter, success, and of course all the love that flows your way. Im proud of your for always being a fighter Caelen. Keep going my love, there’s no stopping you. 🥳❤️

First day of 9th grade. New school and better uniforms. Have a great year, my love. 

We had the pleasure of attending an event today for Camp Boggy Creek at one of our favorite local restaurants Leftovers Cafe. Nurse Mary, Caelen’s favorite volunteer invited us to join them and share a little bit about what makes camp so special. Caelenn got to take the microphone, his absolute favorite thing in the world, and share stories. And then he and Nurse Mary got into their usual shenanigans 🩷

When Caelen walked into the event, he immediately knew the race car, as well as the team. He met them last summer at camp, and surprisingly, they knew exactly who he was when he walked up. And even more fun is that they’re from Jupiter. So as often as they can, they load up their race car and trailer and drive three hours north to put smiles on campers faces.

If you don’t know what Camp Boggy Creek is, please visit their page and check them out. Founded by Paul Newman (salad dressing, lemonade, etc), it is a camp for special needs children that is supported by volunteer staff including medical personnel like nurses and doctors. This is a free camp that is funded entirely by donations, as well as proceeds from purchasing Paul Newman products.

Caelen is leaving for cardiac camp on Tuesday and he can’t wait to go back. He gets to be around other kids with heart disease just like him. These kids have all experienced surgeries, procedutes, tests, transplants, countless IV pokes, and so much more. And this is their opportunity to get a break from all of that, and be in a safe environment at sleep away camp, just like regular kids.

So please purchase Paul Newman products when you’re at the store, because Caelen is one of the kids that directly benefits from that purchase, along with thousands of other campers.

Caelen had his 3 year cath with biopsy today at UF. Everything was good with the cath and his pressures are the same as they were 2 years ago. The biopsy will take a few days, but the team isn’t anticipating any rejection.

It was a very long day, and today’s recovery was rougher than usual. So we did what we always do, visit Target and then Ford’s Garage for dinner.

This was Caelen’s last appointment at UF before his care is transitioned to Joe DiMaggio. It was sad knowing that we’re not going to see the team that saved his life anymore. We even ran into his surgeon, Dr. Bleiweis, in the hallway and gave him a big hug, and thanked him again for saving Caelen’s life. I can’t believe I forgot to get a picture of them together. Kicking myself now.

Thank you UF, thank you to the transplant team, thank you to Dr’s Fricker, Pietra, and all of the Nurse Practitioners that helped Caelen (and I) on the way. 4.5 years after driving up for the transplant evaluation, we will go home to Jupiter with Caelen’s still healthy and grateful heart.

And thanks to our village in Gainesville that took care of us and got us through. We love you all. Go Gators 🧡💙🐊

Blessed to spend Mother’s Day with Mimi and the cousins.

Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the Super Mom’s, especially Caelen’s Donor’s mom 💐

Cinco de Hearto 💚♥️🫀

Happy 3 year transplant anniversary Caelen!

You are blessed my child with so many good things in your life, and today I am also blessed, and thankful to your donor and his family for giving you the gift of life.

Today we celebrated you with heart shaped donuts at school, heart shaped cookies, and bowling with your friends. And balloons, because who doesn’t love balloons? You did not appreciate the early morning wake up call from the dogs, but that’s just their way of saying happy anniversary. 

Forever grateful to the donor and his family. You remain in our hearts and prayers, and I hope that you found peace today. Thank you 💚

And without Caelen’s amazing transplant team at the University of Florida, and his rockstar cardiologist Dr David Drossner, none of this would be possible. Thank you for believing in us, thank you for seeing it through, thank you for saving him.