Photos by Christine Hochkeppel Ryan Bonneau (middle) plays shoot-out with his brother Mike (front) and friend Colby Watson (back). Recently, the Sowams School community helped raise money for Little Hearts, Inc., which provides support for families affected by congenital heart defects. Ryan was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, one of the most common CHDs.

Over the month of February, the children of Sowams School folded laundry and walked their pets — one student even cleaned a basement — to raise money on behalf of three of their peers. In honor of Heart Awareness Month in February, the elementary school students participated in "Do your part, earn a heart," a fund-raiser to earn money for Little Hearts, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides support, resources, networking and hope to families affected by congenital heart defects, or CHDs. They raised money on behalf of three fellow students, kindergartner Ryan Bonneau and third-graders Sean Muldoon and Isaac Nestell, who were born with heart defects.

At the end of the month, the students presented Ryan, Sean and Isaac with a $500 check to donate to Little Hearts, Inc. The money will help fund the website and annual picnic in the middle of the year.

After a PTO meeting in January, Ryan's mother Sara Bonneau approached the school's principal, Jim Callahan, with the idea to raise money during February, in honor of Heart Awareness Month. It was the principal's idea to raise money for Little Hearts, Inc., she said. One Sowams teacher, Carol Garland, turned Mr. Callahan's idea to collect money for the Little Hearts organization into a school-wide project.

Ms. Garland is charge of the Helping Hands Project at the school. She said the project started about six years ago with just a few teacher and student volunteers. Now, each grade dedicates itself to one community service project a year. Each quarter, one grade takes on a special project. "Do your part, earn a heart" is a third grade project the whole school took part in.

When students came to school in February, they emptied their pockets of loose change and crinkled bills and turned it over to their teachers. Next, they jotted down their list of chores on red and pink heart-shaped construction paper cut-outs. Then their teachers posted the hearts outside their classrooms doors.

Ms. Garland said one student helped a woman groom her horse to raise money for the group. Another student made jewelry and sold it at her brother's hockey game. She earned $15 for Little Hearts, Inc.

"The kids have really got into it. The whole school has, and it has meant so much," Ms. Bonneau said.

Isaac's sister, Paige, is a second-grader at Sowams School. She said she made her bed, cleaned her room and washed the dishes to raise money on behalf of Isaac, Sean and Ryan. Ryan's older brother Nick did extra chores — he walked the dog, took out the trash and shoveled snow — to raise money for his friends.

Pam Nestell said she was impressed by the students who dove into this project and made an effort to try and understand CHDs.

"It's a scary thing. Most adults don't like to think about it, but the kids tried," Ms. Nestell said. "Maybe one of them will grow up to be a pediatric cardiologist. You never know."

The Bonneaus, Muldoons and Nestells agreed Sowams School goes above and beyond not just in February, but every day of the school year for their boys.

Kindergartner Ryan Bonneau, third grader Isaac Nestell and third grader Sean Muldoon (left to right) pose for a photo in front of the Little Hearts display in the Sowams School lobby on Monday, March 17.

Sean's father Mark Muldoon said he was pleased when he heard about February's fund-raiser.

"It's not just us who will benefit from it. It's the families that come after us as well," he said.

Heart money

The money students raised will go directly to Little Hearts, Inc., to help fund the website and its annual picnic in June.

From time to time, the Bonneau family turns to Little Hearts, Inc. and its website, www.littlehearts.org, for support.

The website not only offers information about CHDs, but provides a list of support services and contact information, as well as the latest CHD articles and individual stories of Little Hearts families.

The Muldoons look to Little Hearts, Inc. and the website for support.

"There's a community there," Mr. Muldoon said. "We get to share a lot of information through the website."

Like the Muldoon family, the Nestells surf the website for information and support. Ms. Nestell said it also provides her an opportunity to help new families with babies born with CHDs.

In June, Little Hearts, Inc., hosts a picnic for over 700 families affected by CHDs, in Connecticut.

All three Barrington families look forward to the picnic each year, to meet new families and reconnect with old ones. It is also a way for them to catch up with each other.

"Little Hearts gives you the support you need during one of the hardest parts of your life," Ms. Nestell said. "It gives you the sense that you're not alone."

Their stories

Three Barrington families — the Bonneaus, the Muldoons and the Nestells — have been affected by congenital heart defects. As a result, the families have formed a bond, a special friendship, under one school roof.

Sowams School students Sean Muldoon and Isaac Nestell met in kindergarten. Isaac describes Sean as one of his best friends.

"He's a nice boy," Isaac said.

Sean was born with holes between the two upper chambers and two lower chambers of his heart, and his mitral valve was not fully formed.

At four months old, Sean underwent his first surgery.

"We spent three months in intensive care," Mr. Muldoon said. "When we took him home, the valve was still leaking."

He had another surgery at 14 months old, and is expected to need another surgery on his valve between now and 15 years old.

"It was an emotional time back then. I remember holding him in my arms, walking him down to surgery, laying him on the surgery table," he said. "We were scared."

Isaac was born with two heart diseases, pulmonary artesia and tricupsid artesia.

"The part of the heart that separates the blue and red blood is there, but it's not functional," she said.

Isaac has undergone five major surgeries and a number of related surgeries. He was on a feeding tube for five years, and he will need another surgery in years to come.

"He has been through a lot," Ms. Nestell said.

Now, Sean and Isaac are in the third grade, and they are still friends, Isaac said. In September, Sean and Isaac added a new member to their group, kindergartner Ryan Bonneau.

Ryan was born with a heart murmur. When he was born, doctors told the Bonneaus their son had Tetralogy of Fallot, one of the most common CHDs. At five months old, Ryan had open-heart surgery, and he will eventually need another one.

Ms. Bonneau recalled her son's first day of school last fall with a cracked voice and tears in her eyes.

"I remember putting him on the bus," she said. "To give him up that first day of school was like giving him up on the day of his surgery. It's like giving up control. I can't tell you what that feels like."

Ryan did well his first day of school. In fact, he likes it.

"The nurses, everyone, have been so helpful to us. They really helped with his transition," Ms. Bonneau said. "They turned the whole experience into something positive."

All three boys seem to be in a good place right now. They are active in school, on the playground and in sports.

"It's hard to describe just how happy I am when I see Sean run down a soccer field or hit a baseball," Mr. Muldoon said. "We never thought he would be able to do that. The doctors said to let him go. When he's tired he'll stop."

On Thursday afternoon, Ryan played with his brother, Nick and a couple of friends from school.

"We are so proud of him," Ms. Bonneau. "He's our miracle."

More about Little Hearts

Little Hearts, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides support, resources, networking, and hope to families affected by congenital heart defects (CHD), free of charge. Membership consists of families nationwide, 200 of which live in the New England area, who have or are expecting a child with a CHD. For more information, visit www.littlehearts.org. or call 1-866-435-HOPE. Donations may be made to Little Hearts, Inc., 110 Court St., Suite 3A, P.O. Box 171, Cromwell, Conn. 06416.

By Kim Centazzo

kcentazzo@eastbaynewspapers.com