In a place where alarms and uncertainty often fill the air, we’ve made it our mission to infuse every possible moment with purpose, love and a little bit of sparkle. And for Baby Jewels’s ¾ birthday, we served up just that — in the form of sugar, smiles and the sweetest bakery-themed celebration the CICU has ever seen.
With a little help from my behind-the-scenes bestie Glitterbyte (my self-named ChatGPT), we dreamed up the sweetest party that was equal parts meaningful and magical — because when you’re celebrating life in the CICU, you go big in every way you can.
We celebrate each of Jewels’s monthly birthdays, but the quarter marks? Those get the extra frosting. When you’ve walked through the fire, every single moment is something worth making beautiful. Her half birthday was a turning point — when comfort care was suggested and hope felt like something we had to fight for. Now, at 9 months old, we continue to celebrate not just that she is here but that there is hope.
For her ¾ milestone, we leaned all the way into our recipe-themed dreams:
🧁 A bakery backdrop binder clipped to one side of the crib and adorable banners draped around the room
📝 Recipe card station for visitors to share dishes or sweets she can try when she comes home
🍪 Cookie party favors
💅 Bakery-scented hand sanitizer favors
📚 A baking-themed book that became her guest book, signed with love
👩🍳 A tiny cupcake outfit and baker’s play set just for Jewels
Thanks to a kindhearted professional photographer (found through a local women’s Facebook group), we were able to capture the entire setup — and the joy — beautifully. And I even got to be in the pictures! We all know that moms are usually behind the camera, so it was great to be in the memories, too.
Staff stopped by throughout the day to sign her book, drop off a recipe or wish our girl a happy birthday. When it came time to sing, our amazing nurses made sure the hallway was full and the moment felt big.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
This celebration was a reflection of everything Sparkle Strong stands for: finding joy in the in-between, choosing beauty even in hard spaces and giving families something real and tangible to hold onto. These moments are our lifelines. And I can’t wait to pour even more sweetness into her first birthday party (spoiler alert: it’s going to be magical!).
@magicmemoriesmayhem Happy 9 months, sweetie girl!! We love you big!! 🎂🩷💎💪🏾 #SparkleStrong #SparkleStrongJewels #CHDAwareness #HeartWarrior #HeartMom #HeartFamily #CongenitalHeartDefect #HLHS #HeartTransplant #CICU #CICULife ♬ a dream is a wish your heart makes - christina perri