Little Hearts Luncheon: Spotlight on Heroes
Hearts and heroes come in several sizes. But impact is always huge.
Children and families from the Children’s Hospital Colorado Heart Institute demonstrated this fact for the 34th year, with Lyn Schaffer in her 21st year in spearheading the event.
Alongside them were firefighters from the South Metro District, community members, doctors and health professionals, and prescription pets–all heroes with big hearts.
Marilee and Ben Doud, with their newest dog Sarge, presented the Paws of Praise award to Sandy Miller and Lonnie (who couldn’t attend) from Hope Animal Assisted Crisis Response, and Pam King from Chewy’s Bonetique (longtime supporters).
Dr. Michael Schaffer and Cyd Rodriguez were on stage to present the Heart Who Cares Award (named after Cyd’s parents and started by her 16 years ago) to Dr. Mark Twite, anestheseologist and pediatric critical care specialist from Children’s.
Becca and Alex Kalivas and son Oliver took the stage with a heartwarming and emotional story about Oliver’s challenges that were met every time by the miraculous work at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Then the kids, dogs, firefighters and supporters took the stage to proudly showcase that with resilience and the heart of heroes, anything is possible.
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- Toys available to support the program
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- Longtime supporter Ben Doud and Sarge
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- Bart, Emmalee and Geri Fischer
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- Dr Michael Schaffer with Brenda and Erika Kimber–Erika was Dr. Schaffer’s patient when she was a newborn.
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- Kory, Bridget and Maclain Mitchell
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- Bridget Mitchell, left, and Calae Quillin
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- Cyd Rodriguez, left, Rachel Fanckboner, Event Chair Lyn Schaffer and Lindsay Beliaeva
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- Lt. Mike DeBoer from South Metro Fire District chats with Event chair Lyn Schaffer
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- Theresa Anderson, left, and Susan Brubaker peruse auction items
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- Michelle Morovitz and Kristopher Hays
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- Jordan and Hadley Connelly, left, and Rick Karcich give prescription pet Emma some love
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- Sherri Cirbo, left, and Lynn Cirbo
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- Even the desserts had little hearts
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- Dawn Schmeck, left, Donna Basile, Jeanette Starkey
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- Steve Miller and prescription pet Kiddo
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- Courtney Muir, left, and Beth Muir
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- Mike and Cyd Rodriguez
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- Katie Hearn, left, Angela Wenk, Beth Albright
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- From Donor Alliance: Shafer Helms, left, Cindy Helms, Brianna DiPilato
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- Joy Hawkins, left, Randall Clark, Michele Pietras
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- Dr. Michael Schaffer, left, Dr. Robert Wolfe and Karen DeLeo
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- Max Mitchell, left, Julie Strain, Lana Flemmer, Susan Johnson, Dan and Cheryl Hydrick
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- Gina Abou-Jaoude, left, and Adrienne Ruston Fitzgibbons
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- Tracy Hill, left, Kourtney Brooks, Lisa Le, Scott Kirby
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- Kids playing in the ready room
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- Candice and Robert Stafford, left, and Caroline Stafford
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- Molly Esseveld, left, Jen Eshelman, Casey Dugan
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- Cookie Gowdy, left, and Judy Baxter with prescription pet Kayla
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- Les Lee, left, Bill Montie, Noah Devolve (ambassador in 2014 and recipient of the Cardiac Kid’s Scholarship) and Melissa Devolve
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- Beth Williams, left, Jana Rone, June Jewett
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- Carey Rafferty, left, Jeanine Gruenwald, Thomas Gilhooly
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- Carrie West, left, and Christie Connor
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- Firefighter Kendra Keeley says hi to Alice
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- Joy Lowe, left, Marie McGillivray, Lindsay Beliaeva, Alisa Sauter, LaFonda Minner
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- Troy Johnston chats with Martine Hyland
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- Krista Mortensen, left, Keisha Makonese and Dawn Heaton from Wings Over the Rockies
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- Lana Flemmer, left, Julie Strain, Susan Johnson and Dr. Dunbar Ivy
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- Lyn Schaffer and Robert Stafford
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- Betsy Widner and Dr. Sara Mark with Sarge
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- Chelsea Jones, left, Vonda Westlake, MacKenzie Cecil and Ana Holland
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- Arlen Heller, Connie Brakken-Smith and Sharon McMeel
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- Anna Conrad with prescription pet Henry, who is also a ski patrol dog
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- Mona Goodwin, left, Leslie Schaeffer and Ania Wojcki
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- Dr. Melanie Evereitt, left, and Faith Fisher
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- Dr. Jim Jaggers, left, Faith Fisher, Suzanne Zimmerer, Sarah Riggs and Michelle Pietras
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- Chris Dini and Jason with Cpt Tyler Turley of South Metro FD
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- Darby Kelly and Lyn Schaffer with Cormac
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- Anna Conrad and Henry with Engineer Wes Polki
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- Prescription pet Shelby knows the drill by now
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- Dr Fran Hickey says hello to Sarge
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- Kylie Bearse of 9News (meterologist) was the emcee this year.
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- CHC Chaplain Sara Reynolds gave the invocation
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- Todd Mears of Donor Alliance accepts an appreciation plaque from Lyn Schaffer
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- Marilee and Ben Doud on stage with Sarge
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- Marilee and Ben Doud, with Sarge, give Pam King from Chewy’s Bonetique the Paws of Praise Award
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- Pam King on stage with Marilee and Ben Doud and Sarge
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- Dr. Michael Schaffer on stage with Cyd Rodriguez, who started the Heart Who Cares Award 16 years ago
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- Cardiac anesthesiologist Dr Mark Twite receives the Heart Who Cares Award from Dr. Michael Schaffer and Cyd Rodriguez
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- Dr. Michael Schaffer, left, Dr. Mark Twite and Cyd Rodriguez
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- Dr. Dunbar Ivy on stage
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- Becca and Alex Kalivas gave a heartwarming story (literally) about their son Oliver
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- Sarge and Ben Doud
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- Dr. Jim Jaggers with Oliver on stage with Sarge and Ben Doud
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- Dr Fran Hickey with Zoe
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- Firefighter Kendra Keeley and Casey
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- Erika Kimber and Arya
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- Robert Stafford and Grace with prescription pet Hathaway
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- Firefighter Tim Blaylock and Owen
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- Kierra does a little dance on stage
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- Kierra and Dr. Fran Hickey
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- Noah Devolve and Emmalee Fischer with Kaden
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- Firefighter Jarrod Wildman with Matthew and prescription pet Kayla
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- Joanne Davidson with Teagyn
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- Lt Mike DeBoer with Olivia and prescription pet Shelby
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- Emmy, Barrett and Bode take the stage with South Metro firefighters
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- Emmy and her brothers Barrett and Body with South Metro firefighters
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- Sara, with Cam Connor, wanted to make a quick appearance
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- Firefighter Brett Miller with Cameron
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- Cameron waves to the crowd, with firefighter Brett Miller
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- Engineer Wes Polki with Henry and prescription pet Cormac
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- Dr. Sara Mark with Nelly and prescription pet Henry
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- Firefighter Scott Hare and Preston
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- Firefighters Corey and Carl with Cullan and Madelyn
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- Firefighters Corey and Carl with Cullan and Madelyn
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- John Barry and Alessandra
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- John Barry and Alessandra enjoy the stage
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- Cpt. Tyler Turley with Jason and prescription pet Kiddo
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- Marisa with South Metro firefighter and prescription pet
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- Dr Dunbar Ivy with firefighter Tim Blaylock and Matthew, James and Delilah
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- Dr Michael Schaffer with Haylie
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- Firefighter Pearce Connelly with Gavin
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- Haylie and Dr Michael Schaffer
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- Emily takes the runway with firefighters Christopher Riggs and Vincent Pratt
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- Erika Kimber, Grace and Robert Stafford
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- Gavin knows how to command a runway
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- Emily has fun on the runway with South Metro firefighters
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- Becca and Oliver Kalivas
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- Sarge seems to take to the runway just fine
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- Cameron and Casey posing with firefighters
