Dear CDH International Family and Friends,
Today we have announced that after 14 years, Tracy Meats is stepping down from her role as President of CHERUBS, our Patient Family Support Department.
Tracy became part of the charity family when her son, Ian, was diagnosed with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Ian has just started college, and the Meats family have been members for 18 years.
The time has come for Tracy to move on to new adventures with a new career outside of CDH, but she remains a member of the charity and the Executive Board. We congratulate her on her new role and know that we are not losing her but just watching her and her family grow.
Tracy first began volunteering at the charity 14 years ago. She has led our volunteers, the Patient Advocacy Board, the Parent Advisory Board. the Welcoming Committee, Prayer Committee, Special Days Committee, and moved up the volunteer ladder to become President of the Support Division, as well as a member of the Executive Board of Directors. She has also helped numerous other committees and projects when an extra hand was needed.
Fourteen years is a very long time to give to any charity and especially in such an emotional role as supporting families of critically ill children as well as grieving parents. She has held thousands of hands over the years and touched so many lives. Her work will always be acknowledged and appreciated. She did all this while taking care of her family of a wonderful husband and four incredible boys, surviving two heart attacks and cancer. To say that this woman is amazing is an understatement.
Now, how do we fill such big shoes?
Besides myself, she is the longest-running active volunteer at CDH International, and the loss of Tracy as leader of Support is a huge loss and shoes that will require many to fill. You can help in 1 of 2 ways:
1. Volunteer – We are asking our CDH International family to help by volunteering in the various roles she has stepped down from. Please visit our member Facebook group for more information at https://www.facebook.com/groups/cdhsupport/
2. Donate – Give in Tracy’s honor and gratitude for all she has done for the CDH community. Funds will allow the charity to hire help to ensure that projects and support will continue for families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. http://www.cdhi.org/donate
CDH International has directly helped over 7000 patient families and indirectly helped 10,000’s more. We will continue to do so through Research and Awareness. Help us continue to do so through patient Support as well.
On behalf of CDH International and the entire Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia community, thank you Tracy for giving so much of your time, your heart, and yourself to help so many others for so many years. You have made a very big difference in our world and will continue to do so.
Sincerely,
Dawn Ireland
President of CDH International
