Show Some Love

ShowSomeLoveWinter2010

Keith Mize, Crane Operator on the Deepwater Nautilus, takes every opportunity to raise awareness about congenital heart defects, which have affected his daughters, Madelyn and Emily.

Until his daughter Madelyn was born with a congenital heart defect in 2006, the only little hearts Keith Mize, Crane Operator on the Deepwater Nautilus, thought about in mid-February were of the candy variety.

Today, with both of his daughters diagnosed with CHD, the leading cause of infant deaths in the U.S., Keith and his wife Salena work tirelessly to promote awareness and raise money for CHD research. In mid-February, through efforts including a blood drive, a bake sale, and a spare change fundraiser during CHD Awareness Week (Feb. 7-14, 2010), Keith and Salena will devote their full energy to making sure that people are thinking about little hearts – the human variety.

In addition to efforts during CHD Awareness Week, Keith participates in heart walks, collects goods for the Ronald McDonald House and has even assisted at the CHD Quilt Booth at the Houston Quilt Show, sharing his family’s experience with other parents.

While the Mize’s fundraising has been modest in the past three years, it’s exceeded $5,000. The couple’s hope is to form an organization called “Two Hearts, One Voice,” which will promote awareness, advocate for affected people like their daughters, and raise funds that will support research.

If you’d like to learn more about CHD or make a donation during CHD Awareness Week, visit http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/.