For Congenital Heart Defect Week, volunteers helped spread the love at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Lydia’s Love Moments is a non-profit organization based in Hermitage, Pa. Named in honor of Lydia Ghirardi, the organization provides comfort, community and support to families at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Lydia was born with a congenital heart defect that required extensive stays in the hospital for treatment and surgeries. Her journey led her to a life-saving heart transplant, and her mom, Kimberly, credits UPMC Children’s Hospital for saving her life.
“Their skill, dedication, and compassion carried us through some of the most difficult moments imaginable,” said Kimberly. “They cared for Lydia and our entire family with excellence and love.”
Inspired by the small acts of kindness they witnessed and experienced during Lydia’s hospital stay, Lydia’s family founded “Lydia’s Love Moments” to provide families with simple moments of joy, such as meals, comfort items and crafts.
On February 9, volunteers from Lydia’s Love Moments threw a “Heart Party” in UPMC Children’s Hospital’s Eat ‘n Park Atrium. This event allowed patients and their families to gather for crafts, pictures and games, allowing them a creative and fun moment of respite from their hospital stays.
February is American Heart Month, and Valentine’s Day is a natural occasion to bring awareness to heart-related diseases. Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are defined as issues with the structure or function of the heart and affect nearly 1 in 100 newborns. The Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s Hospital treats both children and adults with world-class cardiac care and was recently voted among the Best Children’s Hospitals in Cardiology & Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
Lydia is now a thriving and resilient 12-year-old. She shares a special bond with her older sister, Julian, who is an active and passionate volunteer for Lydia’s Love Moments. According to mom Kimberly, Julian is a caring, natural leader having been impacted by her sister’s health journey.
“She takes real responsibility in planning and carrying out programs, often with the same joy and compassion she once received as a sibling navigating hospital life,” said Kimberly. “It is especially meaningful that she now helps create safe, welcoming spaces for other siblings—just like the ones that supported her.”
For more information on Lydia’s Love Moments, visit their page on Facebook.
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