The Children’s Athletic Training School received the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce’s Angel Award on Oct. 24 for its ongoing support of children and families in the community.
Both she and her son required lifesaving blood transfusions due to the emergency delivery. Kip’s transfusion was immediately administered, however, after a difficult delivery, Heitshusen was told she would have to wait until more was available due to an emergency blood shortage that continues to affect millions of residents across the New York area.
To raise awareness of the need for blood donations, especially during childbirth, Heitshusen and her friend, Michelle Foley, coordinated a blood drive with the New York Blood Center in hopes of saving lives.
Jami Madison, the owner of CATS, reached out as a friend of the family, after reading about Heitshusen’s story online, to see if her business could help out in some way.
Heitshusen’s daughter, Charlotte, a student at Hewitt Elementary School, takes tennis lessons at CATS on weekends, and her son, Weston, has been part of the afterschool program there for two years.
To try and help Heitschusen’s efforts, Madison encouraged members of the local business community and Molloy University athletes to donate and spread the word about the cause.
“Jami (Madison) has always gone above and beyond for countless kids and their families,” Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder said on Facebook. “Wishing her continued success and many more impactful years ahead. It was truly an honor to celebrate this incredible achievement with her.”
Madison and CATS staff were joined by Heitshusen and her family, along with Ryder, Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, and members of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce, to receive the 2024 Angel Award in recognition of the company’s contributions to support families like Heitshusen and others and the impact it has had on the community.
“This is such a beautiful and well-deserved moment for CATS,” Heitshusen said. “We have, and I think a lot of families in this community have, spent so much time here and CATS has given so much to us. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Kip was born at just 26-and-a-half weeks and Heitshusen and her husband were afraid he wasn’t going to make it. He spent his early months in North Shore University Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. During that time, Madison and the CATS staff offered to do whatever they could to help out Heitshusen’s two older children.
“It actually saved us at a time when we were struggling the most,” Heitshusen said. “You go above and beyond. You’ve truly helped us. You’ve blessed and touched so many families, and we’re all really so grateful.”