Family Visits Hospital Staff Who Helped Their Child
By: Casie Mason
Updated: December 1, 2012
Today, Tri-Staters came together for a good cause, raising awareness for those in need. One family tells us they have a lot to be grateful for this holiday season, but they know the road ahead is far from smooth.
Tons of organizations set out their display for charity, but in the middle of all the gingerbread and sugar, is an even sweeter story
"They've done so much for us that I want to be able to participate in this and help them and promote them," says Tiffany Switzer. The switzer family traveled hours to lend a hand at today's event and visit some of the St. Mary's staff who helped changed their son's life.
"When he was twenty days old he had a heart transplant, and due to complications he was in the hospital for about six months and he never learned how to eat. He had a feeding tube," says Switzer.
Since their son completed the St.Mary's Pediatric Feeding Program, the Switzers say their visit gives a little back to those who gave their son a more normal life. "I talked to her about this event to see if she would be interested in building a gingerbread house and she was definitely on board right away from the start," says St.Mary's Pediatric Feeding Program Speech Language Pathologist Autumn Henning.
"Its such an important thing to my heart. Its so important to me that I want to do whatever I can to help and support the foundation, and the hospital and program."
Behind the colorful display of icing and gingerbread is the story of how their little boy learned to finally eat for the very first time. "My son went through the feeing program and he watches the lorax every time he eats, so that's why I did it."
In this family's toughest time, they formed the strongest bond. "I love seeing the ladies again," says Switzer. "They lean on you watching their kid go through struggles. You really do become a family away from home," says Henning.
"He's such a trooper. He's such a happy go lucky kid." Along with St.Mary's, around 125 other competitors built gingerbread houses to promote awareness for the homeless in the Tri-State area. Today was the second annual for this event.
Tons of organizations set out their display for charity, but in the middle of all the gingerbread and sugar, is an even sweeter story
"They've done so much for us that I want to be able to participate in this and help them and promote them," says Tiffany Switzer. The switzer family traveled hours to lend a hand at today's event and visit some of the St. Mary's staff who helped changed their son's life.
"When he was twenty days old he had a heart transplant, and due to complications he was in the hospital for about six months and he never learned how to eat. He had a feeding tube," says Switzer.
Since their son completed the St.Mary's Pediatric Feeding Program, the Switzers say their visit gives a little back to those who gave their son a more normal life. "I talked to her about this event to see if she would be interested in building a gingerbread house and she was definitely on board right away from the start," says St.Mary's Pediatric Feeding Program Speech Language Pathologist Autumn Henning.
"Its such an important thing to my heart. Its so important to me that I want to do whatever I can to help and support the foundation, and the hospital and program."
Behind the colorful display of icing and gingerbread is the story of how their little boy learned to finally eat for the very first time. "My son went through the feeing program and he watches the lorax every time he eats, so that's why I did it."
In this family's toughest time, they formed the strongest bond. "I love seeing the ladies again," says Switzer. "They lean on you watching their kid go through struggles. You really do become a family away from home," says Henning.
"He's such a trooper. He's such a happy go lucky kid." Along with St.Mary's, around 125 other competitors built gingerbread houses to promote awareness for the homeless in the Tri-State area. Today was the second annual for this event.
