Cecilia Kay Balma was born at home, with her family, in the early morning hours of January 5, 2006. Shortly after she was born the paramedics arrived, and Cecilia and I spent the customary 48 hours in the hospital maternity ward before being released with clean bills of health. Shortly after getting home from the hospital, Cecila's father was re-enacting a Daffy Duck cartoon in which Cecilia affectectionately became known as the character "George". As she got older, and having been called George all her life, when she met people she would introduce herself as George. She would also politely correct anyone who called her Cecilia by saying, "You can call me George." She was very smart for her age, understanding more than the average child would. I guess that is a character trait of being the youngest of five children. She was beautiful and healthy, trying in every way possible to keep up with her older siblings. She would say, "Mommy, I a big girl. I can do it too." The incredible part is that she always could. When she set her mind to something she worked extra hard to earn it. Like when she was told that she couldn't join the Wednesday night children's church group, AWANA'S, like her siblings could, because the youngest class was for three years olds, but George was only two. She worked extra hard in Sunday School and Children's Church to show the teachers that could behave and participate in their three year old class. So George became the youngest member of the church's AWANA group, and led the way for other children with the same love of Jesus at that young age. As a tribute to George, the church began a two year old AWANA class and boasts an award plaque with George's photo. She was quite a daughter, and I love her very much. On April 7, 2009, during public school Sprink Break and days before Easter, a holiday which George was desperately awaiting, something happened that was so awful that it changed the way in which my family now percieves time. 

     In the middle of the day, George sat down next to her then six year old brother, and in the midst of her other siblings. Fluttering around the house as we would any other vacation day, and expecting my husband home from work any minute, we had no idea how to cope with events that were about to unfold. Without warning or cause, George layed down on the floor,....and just stopped. My children watched in horror as I held my unresponsive daughter begging her to wake up. 911 arrived and did all they could on the way to the hospital, as I followed behind in an officer's car still trying to reach my husband. When I finally actually heard his voice on the phone, he had entered the highway and was directly behind my daughter's convoy. What could I have possibly said to my child's father what I was still not quite comprehending. Luckily, an officer had spoken to him first and I did not have to speak. He knew and understood. At the hospital, I tried to ignore the priest that was waiting in George's hospital room. I did not want to accept what his presence had to mean. My husband and I stood in shock, the horror of doctor's, nurses, monitors, wires, needles and language I do not understand, all happening at lightning speed. George did not ever come back, and we begged them not to stop trying. Time is a villian that was impossible to fight in this situation, After a while they have no choice, they have to stop. They let you hold your baby for a while after, I suppose that is meant to aid the healing process, giving the parents time to understand what has just happened. It is hard to heal when you can not even understand how a seemingly healthy child could just stop, and no one else could explain either. The paramedics were speechless, the doctor was baffled, the police were shocked. We had no idea what had happened to our daughter until the coroner's report was released stating Sudden Cardiac Death Due To Undiagnosed Heart Condition. After doing some research I found that my daughter's loss was neither rare nor undiscovered. I found that thousands of children in the United States "just stop" every year from undiagnosed heart conditions. When I came across the SADS Foundation, I knew what God wanted me to do. Through SADS Climb to Conquer I am able to honor my daughter's life by bringing awareness to the all to common affliction of Sudden Arrhythmia Deaths Syndrome (SADS). This is the second year I have had the priveledge of participating in this healing event, and it coincides with the second year of my daughter's loss. Last year was our first year participating with the climb and we had the extreme blessing of being paired with the sole female climber for the event who went above and beyond to do an amazing job and a woman whom I have great affection and respect for, Kathy Engh. Kathy was so bonded with George during that first year that she has volunteered to climb for George again this year. What a powerful sentiment to the effect that the SADS Foundation can have when the community pairs together to help save the lives of our children. I would give anything to have had the information that would have saved my daughter's life. This climb raises money for the SADS Foundation to meets it's purpose, to provide Family Support to assist patients and their families in making informed medical decisions and living with the challenges of these conditions,
increase General Awareness of Warning Signs to recognize and prevent heart rhythm abnormalities, educate Health Care Professionals in early diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm abnormalities, and be Advocates to increase arrhythmia research and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. My daughter would be alive today if I had recieved any of these services or information before her first symptom. For my daugher, who will forever be my Princess George, I ask that you find it in your heart to help someone protect their own and donate to the Climb to Conquer SADS 2011. My family thanks you, as we drawn so near her second "angel-versary". In loving of memory of Cecilia "Princess George" Balma  1/5/06-4/7/09
     

Thank you for joining our campaign to save lives by raising money to continue patient family support and SADS education programs. Several thousand young people die unnecessarily each year from SADS (Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes) in the United States, and education is the answer.

Funds raised through the Climb to Conquer SADS will:

 

• Provide Family Support to assist patients and their families in making informed medical decisions and living with the challenges of these conditions
• Increase General Awareness of Warning Signs to recognize and prevent heart rhythm abnormalities
• Educate Health Care Professionals in early diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm abnormalities
• Be Advocates to increase arrhythmia research and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

Please see the link below for more information about Climb and the SADS Foundation. Climb and the SADS Foundation Information