Dear John,

We're so close to the end of 2023. I find myself reflecting on everything I have experienced this year, and one thing I can say for certain: My greatest source of inspiration has been the young patients at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

So I want to take a moment to tell you about just one of our patients: Sawyer.

Before I tell you more about Sawyer's incredible journey that started when he was just days old, you should know that we have a TRIPLE match right now for our year-end fundraising drive. If you can give $10 or more as your first gift before the clock strikes midnight tomorrow, Credit Unions for Kids will donate double that amount to make a huge impact for sick and injured kids at CHLA.

When Sawyer was born, his heart was tiny. Imagine how much a normal AAA battery weighs. That was the weight of Sawyer's heart.

He was a preemie, but it wasn't just that. On his sixth day of life, his heart stopped. He survived, but doctors soon realized that Sawyer was suffering from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that is extremely rare in newborns.

He was transferred to CHLA's Heart Institute, where, at just 7 months old, he received a heart transplant. Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, CHLA can take on the most complex and rare cases. It's why stories of survival like Sawyer's are possible.

For babies like Sawyer: Your donation can be TRIPLE-matched, but only until midnight tomorrow. Please donate now if you can, it would mean so much.

I can't begin to tell you how much your support this year has meant to everyone here, but I hope Sawyer's story gives you an idea of the kinds of miracles this community makes possible every day.

Thank you again,

Alexandra Carter, MBA, CFRE Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer Children's Hospital Los Angeles