Join me in my efforts to support the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island

WALK OF LOVE/5K RUN on Saturday, May 9^th

Victoria Raabe was born September 10, 1994 at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. Victoria was born with congenital heart abnormalities, under-developed lungs, bilateral clubbed feet, feeding abnormalities, ptosis and cranial abnormalities. On August 31, 2011 Victoria had a pulmonary valve replacement and was the first at NSH/LIJ to receive the Melody Valve. After the surgery, Victoria ended up with thrombocytopenia, the bone marrow biopsy, pneumonia and tethered spinal cord surgery and spent 48 days at Cohen Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. In May of 2012 Victoria developed severe headaches and was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and Chiari 1 Malformation. She had to undergo another operation for the placement of the VP Strata Valve Shunt. In April 2014 Victoria's tethered cord re-tethered and she needed surgery once again. April 2015, Victoria had Arnold Chiari 1 Decompression Surgery (suboccipital craniectomy and C1 laminectomy) and was in Cohen Children's hospital once again. During all these surgeries we stayed at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.

Those of you who know Victoria know she is a friendly twenty-five year old and is very sociable. She is now an in-house volunteer for the House. During her tenuous plight of medical procedures, which included long hospital stays, Victoria and her family became acquainted with the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. It became her family's "home-away-from-home" during the most difficult times. The love and support she and her family received during her arduous recovery times have impressed Victoria and her family to continue to volunteer for the House, so other families facing similar situations will know they are not alone. Victoria is continuing the Walk-of-Love tradition her older brother, Sean began twenty four-years ago. The Ronald McDonald House is the House that continues to serve so many families with seriously ill children. The house provides the home, cooks the meals, sleeps the families and dries the tears. You never feel alone. It is a great support system. It is definitely the House that Love Built. Please help this worthy cause by sponsoring Victoria.