Dear Heartworks Kids Families and Friends of Heartworks Kids,

A large portion of our fundraising efforts in the up coming year will focus on the Talena Smiles Project. Talena is a beautiful young woman who has taken the life she was handed and made the best of it. She was born with birth defects of the mouth, jaw and ears. Below is her story. You will be able to feel her loving spirit and be inspired to give with an open heart where you can. It may be of your time, your resources or of your spirit. She has been an amazing example of receiving which in many cases can be more difficult than giving.

Talena spoke at our September meeting and the kids could understand her story and could relate to having work done on their teeth. She had been teased and spoken down too during her life and the kids knew that feeling and had immediate compassion for her.

Karen Barnes, Paige York and Heartworks Kids have put together an incredible team of doctors who will provide the medical care for Talena. The process of correcting these birth defects will take place over the next two years. The work is very extensive. Please consider how you and your family may be able to support this incredible young woman. Let’s bring HOPE into her life.

A huge thank you goes out to Dr. Russell Richardson (dentist), Dr. Casi Stubs (orthodontist), Dr.York (oral surgeon). Their generosity of time and resources has amazed us. Their hearts explode with compassion!

Please know that Talena is overwhelmed by the idea that there are people in this world that care so much. This is something that she has not experienced very often in her life. Your kindness is making such a difference. What a beautiful thing to model for our children.

With gratitude,

Lauren Romano, Heartworks Kids Founder