Sweating for Sweet Peas
A fundraiser in loving memory of Vivian Mae
On March 24, 2018, I will be sweating for Sweet Peas! I’ve been an avid crossfitter for going on five years now, and while I’m not anywhere near a competitive level, one of the ways our community honors the memory of loved ones lost is to do a workout named after them in their honor. On March 24, 2018, Patrick Burgess and the members of Gulfport Crossfit in Gulfport, Mississippi will be doing the first annual “Vivian” workout. The workout will consist of:
For Time:
2 Rounds of
1 Mile Run
18 Clean and Jerks (males: 155lbs/females: 105lbs)
We would invite you to pledge a donation of a dollar amount for each minute it takes me to complete the workout (I think it will take about 20 minutes), or you can simply donate a set amount. Our goal is to raise $3,000 for PSP. Thank you so much for all your pledges and donations to help PSP give strength and support to our NICU families.
- Jarrett and Ellon Little
For Time:
2 Rounds of
1 Mile Run
18 Clean and Jerks (males: 155lbs/females: 105lbs)
We would invite you to pledge a donation of a dollar amount for each minute it takes me to complete the workout (I think it will take about 20 minutes), or you can simply donate a set amount. Our goal is to raise $3,000 for PSP. Thank you so much for all your pledges and donations to help PSP give strength and support to our NICU families.
- Jarrett and Ellon Little
OUR STORYOur daughter Vivian Mae was born on February 1, 2018 at 35 weeks. The night before, Ellon told me she was concerned that she hadn’t been feeling Vivian move that day. Our doctor said he wasn’t particularly concerned but recommended she come in for them to check Vivian’s heartrate the next morning.
The following morning, Ellon went to the doctor and they found Vivian’s heartbeat was very faint, about 30 beats per minute. They took Ellon immediately to surgery for an emergency c section. Vivian was born at 10:07 a.m. with a very faint heartbeat and wasn’t able to breathe on her own. The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck and had cut off the flow of oxygen to her brain. After being resuscitated by pediatricians at Garden Park Medical Center she was transported to the NICU at Gulfport Memorial Hospital. Upon arriving at Memorial we got news that would change our lives forever. The doctors told us that Vivian had very little chance of survival. She had suffered severe brain damage from a lack of oxygen to her brain and was not able to sustain herself on her own. Her liver and kidneys were failing and her hands and feet were dying from lack of blood flow. The doctors did what they could and Vivian fought hard for 5 days, but after all the available treatments to help improve her brain function, she wasn’t going to be able to live. Ellon and I made the decision that it was best for Vivian to take her off life support and let her go to be with the Lord. We were able to hold her until she left this world in our arms at 1:30 p.m. on February 6, 2018. |
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WHY I’M SWEATING FOR SWEET PEAS
During her short time with us, Vivian brought so much joy and light into our lives. We decided that we wanted her memory to live on in the form of a charity that benefitted families with babies in the NICU. We received so much love and support from our families and friends during those grueling 5 days. I honestly don’t’ know how we would have made it but for all the visits, food baskets, little gifts and outpouring of love and support from our family and friends.
Though thankfully our financial needs were covered, we know what a burden it can be on a family. We wanted to help others through those trying times. We began searching for a charity that helped families in the NICU and found Project Sweet Peas. Their mission lined up perfectly with what Ellon and I wanted to do. We are proud and excited to help their mission to provide comfort and support to families going through what we experienced.
Though thankfully our financial needs were covered, we know what a burden it can be on a family. We wanted to help others through those trying times. We began searching for a charity that helped families in the NICU and found Project Sweet Peas. Their mission lined up perfectly with what Ellon and I wanted to do. We are proud and excited to help their mission to provide comfort and support to families going through what we experienced.
HOW TO PLEDGE
You are welcome to donate a flat amount if you’d like. However, if you would like to pledge a donation based on my score on “Vivian,” please email us at vivianmaepsp@gmail.com with your name, phone number and amount you’d like to pledge.
I will contact you after March 24 to let you know the score of the workout and how much to donate based on your pledge.
I will contact you after March 24 to let you know the score of the workout and how much to donate based on your pledge.
