sport little red hats throughout February, which is American Heart Month, thanks to the
generosity of people who knit and crochet.
On Friday, Jan. 27, AT 10:30 a.m. at Camp Amedore in the Bernard & Millie Duker
Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center, D-7, two Cardiac Kids – children born
with congenital heart defects – presented handmade hats to representatives from area
hospitals to share with the babies born in February.
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| From left, Everett Stewart, Theresa Stewart, Dr. Sulagna Mookherjee and Preston Stewart presented handmade red hats to area hospitals during a ceremony at Albany Medical Center on Friday, Jan. 27. Preston, of Schoharie, was born with four congenital heart defects and helped present the hats as part of the American Heart Association’s Little Hats Big Hearts program. More than 40 volunteers knitted or crocheted nearly 1,000 little red hats to donate to hospital nurseries for newborns to wear during February, American Heart Month. Photo courtesy of Albany Medical Center. |
Ryan Galvin is 5, and the Heart Hero of the 2017 Capital Region Heart Run & Walk.
He was born with two congenital heart defects.
Preston Stewart is 3, was the Heart Hero of the 2013 North Country Heart Walk, and
was born with four congenital heart defects.
Ryan and Preston presented hats to representatives from local hospitals on Friday
morning. About 40 volunteers donated more than 1,000 hats to the American
Heart Association’s Little Hats Big Hearts program, which raises awareness about
congenital heart defects. 1 in 100 children are born with a congenital heart defect.
Preston’s grandmother Lynn Stewart was one of the women who knit the little red
hats, in Preston’s honor. Stewart was part of a group that gathered at The Spinning
Room in Altamont to make hats. Kathy Loegering, co-owner of The Spinning
Room, also made hats in honor of her grandson Luke, another child born with a
congenital heart defect.
Stewart and Loegering were present when Ryan and Preston donated the little
red hats to the hospitals.
“When my daughter sent me the information and the call to knit little red hats for the
AHA, I knew this was a charity knit I could get behind,” Loegering said. “Our
grandson Luke, born with congenital heart issues, is very dear to our family. When he
needed surgery as an infant, we were concerned and worried. Happily, he is thriving
as he continues to grow with his twin brother Ben. We are truly thankful for the
excellent care at Albany Medical Center and are honored to have participated in this
program with other knitters from the Spinning Room to make red hats to support heart
health.”
“When my mother-in- law told me she was knitting hats in Preston’s honor, I felt so
grateful for the support and help in raising awareness for congenital heart defects,”
said Theresa Stewart, Preston’s mother. “It’s also very touching to see how many
people made these hats to help honor children like Preston. Preston has faced
many challenges, and more lie ahead, but the support that we receive is overwhelming
and very much appreciated.”
“The Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center is proud to
work with the American Heart Association on its ‘Little Hats, Big Hearts’ campaign to
raise awareness about congenital heart defects,” said Michael J. Horgan, M.D.,
Head, Division of Neonatology at Albany Medical Center. “In recognition of
American Heart Month this February, our newborns wearing these little red hats will
serve as tiny reminders on the importance of heart health and preventing congenital
heart defects.”
“Ryan was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect even before he was born.
Through the research the American Heart Association has funded over the years,
Ryan's doctors have the expertise to have been able to provide an early diagnosis that
has helped Ryan to manage his congenital heart defect,” said Bill Galvin, Ryan’s
father. “His pediatric cardiologist continues to monitor him and address some issues
that have occurred. Ryan and his journey with CHD are why we raise awareness
about congenital heart defects. The Little Hats, Big Hearts program is one way the
Heart Association is bringing awareness of congenital heart defects to all parents right
in the hospital when babies are born. Today, we are honored to have Ryan present
theses red hats to the nurseries of local hospitals.”
The American Heart Association received nearly 1,000 hats from about 20 volunteers
this year. Some came with their own stories. Jane Hamilton Canale of Schenectady
made them in honor of her brother Bruce, a law enforcement officer from Washington
County, who died suddenly of a heart attack. A group called the Crochet Snobs
provided hats, as did a knitting group at Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte CPAs, P.C.
Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Hospital, Bellevue Woman’s Hospital, Burdett Birth
Center, Columbia Memorial Health’s Birth Place, Saratoga Hospital and Adirondack
Health all received hats from Preston and Ryan today.
About the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association
The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving
people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team
with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies,
and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-
based American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization
dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division
of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800- AHA-USA1,
visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About Albany Medical Center
Albany Medical Center, northeastern New York’s only academic health sciences center, is one
of the largest private employers in the Capital Region. It incorporates the 734-bed Albany
Medical Center Hospital, which offers the widest range of medical and surgical services in the
region, and the Albany Medical College, which trains the next generation of doctors, scientists
and other health care professionals, and includes a biomedical research enterprise and the
region’s largest physician practice with more than 450 doctors. Albany Medical Center works
with dozens of community partners to improve the region’s health and quality of life. For
more information: www.amc.edu or www.facebook.com/albanymedicalcenter.
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