For as long as I can remember, I've been a sucker for critters and babies. When possible I've collected every four legged fuzzy butt I could. Babies, while never having a strong desire to be a mom, I want them taken care of, loved, happy and HEALTHY.

Since becoming a mom last year, let's just say, those protective feelings have swollen into an utter tidalwave.

So now, I'm going to introduce you to Ethan.

He is as beautiful and spirited as my own precious little man. Only off by three months of age, they could very well be the same kid.

But they're not. While my son is thankfully healthy, Ethan - at one year old - needed a new heart.

He already had two of the three heart surgeries (at eight days old and at four months) needed to repair his congenital heart defect (Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome) and was doing better, until they discovered this sweet little boy's heart was failing and he needs a heart transplant.

Ethan was on the emergency list for a life-saving heart transplant.  Which I'm DELIGHTED to update and report that he received!!!!!!!!!!!  But it's a long, expensive road. A transplant of such nature easily costs more than $500,000.

Can you even imagine... your one year old baby, having to endure so much? Then having to worry about never ending medical bills?

Please, I BEG of you, please help in ANY WAY you can.

Here's a copy of the letter with a little more information and the flyer for "Ethan's Day" this Saturday, May 18th at Lake Bottom Park.

Online, you can get more information at www.COTAforEthanO.com

COTA - is the Children's Organ Transplant Association.

I know we're all strapped for cash, but at the very least PLEASE share this post to everyone you know. You LITERALLY could help save this precious little boy's life.

You know I'm not the most religious person, and I don't care what denomination you are - what you believe or don't believe in - I think we can ALL agree we need to help baby Ethan in any and everyway we can because it's the right thing to do. 

Again, I BEG you, please do what you can to help and PLEASE spread the word about this. Again, if you can't make it out to Ethan's Day this Saturday, please visit the website and SHARE SHARE SHARE  this post.

Thank you sooooooooo much.  

And again, precious Ethan recently HAS RECEIVED A NEW HEART!!!!! But his fight is far from over and we can help him.

If you've not heard, Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy after discovering she was high risk for breast and overian cancer. Over several months, she had her breasts removed and then rebuilt, dropping her cancer risk from 87% to under 5%

Good for her for being pro-active. It's just a shame more women don't have access to or the ability to afford to the kind of health care Angelina does so they can cut their risk of cancer, too.

Angie's a political person, so MAYBE her announcement of this proceedure will motivate her to be involved with and lend her celebrity status to Women's Health Issues here in the US.

We can only hope.

For you fellas mourning the loss, here's a pic to remember her boobs by...

Here's a linke to the story, if you want to get the full scoop.

.... here's the Led Zeppelin segment from The Kennedy Center Honors.