Because of the restrictions placed on many hospitals due to the Covid-19 pandemic, UltraGroup decided to make charitable donations on behalf of each hospital and program in lieu of sending the traditional Christmas gifts this year. UltraGroup asked Program staff to work with their Hospital's Administration department to select a charity of their choice. We were so pleased to contribute to so many worthy charities. One charity in particular moved everyone deeply.
Stephanie Coleman, with New Directions at Dodge County Hospital in Eastman, GA, requested that we donate to a charity named "Addi's Legacy." This charity is organized by Karla Jones, a Registered Nurse who has been with New Directions since 2014. Karla is the mother of 3 little girls. One of her little girls, Addison, or "Addi", was born on December 22, 2009 with Heterotaxy, a rare birth defect that involves the heart and other organs. Seventeen days after her birth, following multiple complicated surgeries, Addi passed away. In her honor, Karla organizes multiple fundraisers each year to keep Addison’s memory alive, and to help other mothers who are going through the same thing. Every year she creates Christmas t-shirts that have Addison’s footprints on them. The money from the sales of the shirts goes to Gatewood RMH of Atlanta & CHOA-Egleston CICU. Karla also creates "Memory boxes" that she takes to Atlanta each month. As featured in a short story on Macon, Georgia's Channel 13 a couple of years ago, these memory boxes hold special things that Karla picks out for other mothers, like footprint kits, blankets, picture frames, journals, and more. Losing a child is a mother’s worst fear but what Karla has done to keep Addi’s memory alive and teach others about Heterotaxy Syndrome is deeply moving. UltraGroup is honored to partner with New Directions and Dodge County Hospital to help Karla keep Addi's memory alive once again.
If you would like to donate to Addi's Legacy or learn more about this worthy cause, please click here