The Journey of Mandy & Paul with Daughter Aubrie and how they were connected with Riders 4 Children.
At 19 weeks into their pregnancy, Mandy and Paul could not wait to find out the gender of their second unborn child. Within a matter of seconds, they went from celebrating the gender of their daughter to instant fear when they were told “your daughter may not live past her first breath”. They soon found out that their daughter, Aubrie, was going to be born with a severe heart condition called Tricuspid Atresia, Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome. Her right ventricle was not forming as it should have...so basically, she was going to be born with only half of a heart.
Aubrie had three open heart surgeries, the first came at 26 days old, the second at 3 months old, and the third just before her 3rd birthday. She also received 11 other surgeries and procedures, most before she was 3 months old. She continued to get procedures to check her heart over the years and may need a heart transplant in the future.
They spent 100+ days at Children’s Hospital and many nights at The Ronald McDonald House Charities. Their stay was over some major holidays, including Christmas. The Ronald McDonald House Charities helped make that Christmas extra special. They are so grateful for all of the volunteers and employees who helped them survive the darkest days of their life.
Aubrie's heart may not be whole, but she is full of life, happiness, personality, and fun. She is now a 9 year old who has beaten the odds and is here to offer hope! She is a walking miracle.
Here are pictures with family to include grandpa Terry with her spectacular helmet on his motorcycle.
She was featured as Kid of the Quarter during the building of Children's Hospital in Colorado Springs.
Search YouTube for Kid of the Quarter-Meet Aubrie
Mandy's father passed away in July of 2023 and she inherited his motorcycle, a 2005 Yamaha Road Star 1700. Riders 4 Children founder, Doug Zurek, was connected with Mandy by her extended family and friends of his, Chad and Pam Bauer. They had been discussing the Riders 4 Children's annual event. Mandy was selling her dads motorcycle and after speaking with Doug, immediately took it off the market. She loved the idea of donating it to Riders 4 Children and appreciated what our charity does to help those families staying at Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Instead of selling her dad’s bike, she decided that she wanted to give back and donate to an organization that contributes to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Doug drove from the Front Range to pick up the bike.
She prays that they we able to get a great donation, that the rider of this bike knows how special it is, that the Lord watches over the rider and keeps them safe, that this decision would make Dad proud.
She kept it together really well, until the trailer disappeared from sight and she realized that another piece of her Dad is now off to a grand adventure.
The motorcycle sold for $3000, which will be donated this year to Ronald McDonald House Charities at the end of the event.
