Kim Christiansen made the point at the Little Hearts Fashion Show and Luncheon on Friday that it’s our responsibility to help parents and families of kids with heart problems. Most often they are working and can’t take off as much as they’d like to, and most often they need help with resources and plan of care.
The Little Hearts Fashion Show has, unbelievably, been doing this for 29 years for Children’s Hospital Colorado–Lyn Schaffer has tirelessly been the driving force behind this marvelous event for the past 15 of those years and she and the people she works with, including her husband, Dr. Michael Schaffer, are angels.
Returning this year to the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, models and escorts had a great time hamming it up for the audience and the kids’ heart challenges were a distant thought, at least for today. There were even dogs present through the Children’s Hospital Colorado Pet Prescription program, and they were obviously happy too!
Dr. Dunbar Ivy, Selby’s Chair in Pediatric Cardiology and chief of the cardiology department at Children’s Hospital Colorado, once again returned to tell the audience about new strides being made in the field and the good work being accomplished at Children’s.
Dr. Michael Schaffer presented the Sam and Fern Primack Heart Who Cares Award to Dr. Robert Wolff, a humble leader in the field whom Dr. Schaffer called his “mentor and role model.”
Then the much-anticipated fashion show began, as kids and their escorts (community leaders, kids’ doctors and a few firefighters and some happy dogs) paraded down the runway in fashions provided by Dillard’s And it’s all to benefit the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
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- Stephanie Landree, left, Frances Owens and Maggie Scivicque
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- Lloyd Lewis of ARC Thrift (sponsor) with Claire Holz
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- Rachel and Dave played some tunes during the reception
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- Linda Johnson, left, Judy Ruzicka, Jill and Dick DeLand and Missy Ruzicka
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- Ilse Morris, left, Jane Beasley and Cyd Rodriguez (sponsor)
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- Keith Reinert, left, Gordon Reinert, Christy Carello, Carol Musick, Kalina, John Carello and Catalina Monterro
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- LaFonda Malleck, left, Kelly Olech, Ben May, Lindsay Beliaeva and Marissa Beasley, with kids Emma and Kate in frton
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- Joanne Gaffney, left, and Jennifer West
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- Michelle Olsen, left, Judy Fischer and Joely Maddux
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- Marika Klesic, left, Carlie Bremen and Michael Jerjovic
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- Fatima Dias, left, her mom Emma Dias and Kirk Watson of the Donor Alliance
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- Dr. Michael and Lyn Schaffer flank Dr. Dunbar Ivy
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- Beth Bowlen Wallace, left, Wendy Johnson, Gwenivere Snyder, Kaye Lynn Fote and Jane Norton
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- Volunteers at checkin: Katie Anders, left, Andrea Caruso, Katy Treadway, Hannah Blatt, Sandee Walling, Nadine Copley
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- Vickinda and Clint Dinnel, left, with Debbie Dinnel and Allura Jones
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- Allura Jones, left, Vickinda Dinnel and Vicki Schroeder
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- Dick and Lydia McKee, left, Any and Max Mitchell with Kate
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- Dr. Bob Wolff, Sharon Downing and Dr. Carol Greimann
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- Adrienne and Jack Fitzgibbons (sponsors)
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- Dr. Dunbar Ivy with Marie Wright and James
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- Patty Lorie, left, and Molly Broeren, board secretary
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- Linda and Gene Young
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- Robert Stafford and Melonie White
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- Tim “Gilby” Gilbert, left, Dr. Dunbar Ivy, Janie Stoddard and Dr. Fran Hickey
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- Sarah and Matt Gebhardt, let, Travis Tucker, Jen and Joel Rieck
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- Ned West, left, Dr. Jeff Durst and Jennifer West
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- Sharon McMeel, left, and Ruth Wolff
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- Dara Johnson with Isaac, left, Lou Raders and Phil Johnson
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- Darby Kelly with Pet Prescription dog Cormac
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- Ben Doud (sponsor) and Marilee Carter with Pet Prescription dog Maxwell
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- Beth McCarthy and Pet Prescription dog Rosie
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- Nancy Sahling and Pet Prescription dog Zach
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- Don Preisser and Pet Prescription dog Flip
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- Flip gets a treat.
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- Event Chair Lyn Schaffer welcomes everyone
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- Supporter Irene Zimmer, left, and Sue Piercy
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- Christina Enstrom (sponsor–thanks for the wonderful toffee!) and Jeri Langolf
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- Dr. Sara Mark says a few words
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- Melanie, Eden, Eloiza and Alexia getting ready for the show
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- Casey, Kaitlyn, Ashley and Jessica before the fashion show
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- Tanner Fieth and his aunt, Keri Christiansen
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- Kim Christiansen returned as emcee
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- Kim Christiansen makes a point
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- Dr. Michael Schaffer on stage with Lindsay Beliaeva and Cyd Rodriguez
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- Dr. Michael Schaffer and Cyd Rodriguez present the Heart Who Cares award to Dr. Robert Wolff
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- Dr. Michael Schaffer, Lindsay Beliaeva and Dr. Robert Wolff on stage
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- Dr. Robert Wolff with his Sam and Fern Primack Heart Who Cares Award
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- Model Ryan with Melonie White and Prescription Pet Gracie
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- Kenleigh is a little shy, escorted by a firefighter
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- Kepler is an 18-month old who underwent surgery to correct his artery. He is now an active little guy who loves to play “hockey” at home with a clean flyswatter and a ball.
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- Dr. Fran Hickey escorts Myles
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- Grace is escorted by her brother Kevin and Prescription Pet Flip
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- Models Violet and Caroline are escorted by firefighters
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- Joanne Davidson escorts Izabella
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- Trinity is escorted by Christina Ravazzolo, representing Accredo
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- Trinity and Christina enjoying themselves on the runway
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- A firefighter escorts Destiny
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- Dr. Michael Schaffer and Eloiza
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- A firefighter and Joseph
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- Eden Weisberg is escorted by a firefighter.
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- Pretty Eden Weisberg’s grandmother, Glory, proudly cheered her on at the end of the runway.
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- A firefighter hams it up with Eden.
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- Casey struts the runway–he overcame heart surgery at just 4 months old.
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- Dr. Max Mitchell high-fives Casey
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- Casey hams it up with Catalina
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- Ashley, Anthony and Cassie, winners of the Cardiac Kids Scholarship
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- A firefighter escorts Preston and Prescription Pet Zach
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- Firefighter, Preston and sheltie Zach ham it up on the runway
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- Proud dad Brandon Johnson escorts Emily
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- Brandon and Emily Johnson
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- Frances Owens escorts Kennedy
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- Former First Lady Frances Owens waves with Kennedy
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- Big smiles from Frances Owens and Kennedy
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- Irene Zimmer escorts Abbey, who was celebrating her birthday!
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- Vaughn waves to the crowd. He overcame heart surgery at just seven days old.
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- Christina Enstrom escorts Jonathan and retired Prescription Pet Maxwell, as Catalina looks on.
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- Christina Enstrom, Jonathan and Catalina
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- Melanie proudly stands on stage
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- Melanie is a confident and aspiring 10-year-old.
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- Kyndal had heart surgery on Valentine’s Day two years ago and is doing great now!
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- Dr, Jeff Durst with Tristan, who had an implant at just two month old.
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- Dr. Jeff Durst with Tristan
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- Tanner and his aunt Keri Christiansen
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- Tanner Fieth and Keri Christiansen, who had heart surgery herself when she was only six months old.
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- Noah takes the stage with Prescription Pet Rosie
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- Rosie is almost as big as Noah, and they’re both having a great time!
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- Alan is at home on stage.
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- A firefighter gives model Alexia a twirl.
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- Jessica is escorted by Robert Stafford
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- Jessica is having a good time on the runway.
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- Kaitlyn and her proud dad, Greg Ruzicka
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- Firefighters and Myles
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- Irene Zimmer, Abbey and Joseph on stage
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- Escorts, models and dogs on stage
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- A firefighter and Joseph
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- Models and escorts on stage after the show
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- Models including Grace, Destiny, Preston and Flip
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- Grace and Flip still having a good time on stage
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- Destiny holding Zach
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- Noah pets Rosie
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- Proud parents after the show
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- Greg and Kaitlyn Ruzicka
