Kindness can be found Everywhere

Anne and Jeff were so very excited while they were expecting their first child, Holland Elizabeth. They learned their daughter had Down syndrome and immediately turned to GiGi’s Playhouse for support, but the excitement never faded. Unfortunately at 38 weeks in her mother’s womb, Holland passed away before she could take a breath in the world. Three months after her passing, Anne and Jeff decided to visit GiGi’s Playhouse to share their story with us and remember their beautiful daughter.

While they were visiting Hugs and Mugs, Anne bought some merchandise. When Anne went to pay, we explained to her that the day before, there was a hospice nurse named Heidi in the store that took care of a beautiful 3 year old little girl named Sadie Elizabeth who had passed away from a rare genetic disorder, Aicardi Syndrome. She had left a donation and a card that read “This act of kindness has been done in memory of Sadie Elizabeth McCann” for the next customer at Hugs & Mugs, which happened to be Anne.

Sadie’s parents wanted her kind spirit to live on with Acts of Kindness for others. Anne was the recipient of the donation in honor of their daughter. Both girls shared the same middle name “Elizabeth”.  After hearing the story of Sadie, Anne wanted to continue her daughter Holland’s memory by volunteering time at GiGi’s Playhouse in 2019. Anne is a bilingual teacher and will be helping with our Spanish speaking families, as well as our GiGi’s Playhouse in Mexico.

Anne has visited the Playhouse a couple times since their first visit, bringing her friends. Pictured is Anne standing next to the purple butterfly on the wall which reads “Holland Elizabeth Meetz and Family”. Holland’s memory will live on through her courageous family and GiGi’S Playhouse. Acts of Kindness are everywhere we look, we just have to find the beauty in the world.

-Karen Russell Owens