Team Kaelyn’s Kause brings in $7,000 in Heart Walk

More than 40 family members and friends helped Team Kaelyn’s Kause raise $7,000 in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk at the Irvine Spectrum Sept. 16.

Kaelyn Graham, 3, was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart, including the aorta, aortic valve and mitral valve is underdeveloped.

Jolanda Graham, Kaelyn’s mom, had asked the community for help in sponsoring the family’s team, participating in the walk for the third time this year, and said this was the largest group ever assembled.

Brandon Graham, Kaelyn’s dad, wasn’t able to participate because he is serving in Iraq with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, but his sister flew in from Minnesota and walked in her brother’s place.

Jolanda expressed her gratitude for the support the family has received from the Newport Beach community.

“I took Kaelyn out of her stroller and she ‘walked’ across the finish with the entire Team Kaelyn’s Kause behind her. It was a perfect example of the support we feel on a daily basis from all of you,” she said.

Kaelyn was scheduled to have a heart catheterization at UCLA Thursday, but the procedure was postponed until Nov. 7 because she came down with a fever.

For information on Kaelyn and updates on her condition, read Jolanda’s weekly posts at www.caringbridge.org/ca/kaelyn.

— Sue Thoensen