Daphne's Brave Heart

10/26/2025

Want your own Brave Heart tote and/or blanket?

We have had so much interest from folks who came to Daphne Day yesterday (more to come on the special day we had) and who celebrated from afar about how to get their own Brave Heart tote and blanket, and we are looking to make it happen!

Fill out your name, email, and whether you're interested in a tote or blanket (or both), and once we meet a minimum interest, we will begin placing an order: https://forms.gle/9dvjnGELMsKmXD6p7

Totes:
- estimated $20 per tote (+ shipping)
- minimum preorders needed: 50

Blankets:
- estimated $20 per blanket (+ shipping)
- minimum preorders needed: 50

10/25/2025

Some special treats made by Daphne’s Gram Angie will be at Daphne Day tomorrow 🤍

10/21/2025

Nina, the Nurse Program Coordinator of Fetal Cardiology at the Heart Center, was often the first face Kassi, Connor, and Daphne would see at appointments. Listen as she reflects on the lasting impact she believes Ducky’s Room will have at ACH. RSVP for Daphne Day ASAP!

10/21/2025

Hi friends 🤍 Daphne's momma here.

We are looking forward to celebrating our sweet girl with our friends, family and community this coming weekend.

If you haven't yet, please take a moment to RSVP, so we can get as close to an accurate headcount of guests to expect for while finalizing planning for light snacks and seating 🤍

RSVP: https://hudsonucc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3172388/reservations/708d5d59-ac2b-4c3c-8eb6-54f563f2c1bd

10/20/2025

Hear from Dr. Karamlou at about how she sees Ducky’s room affecting the experience of heart families at ACH! Join us at Daphne Day on Saturday to celebrate Ducky’s room and learn how you can be involved. RSVP in our bio!

10/16/2025

Ducky’s Room is coming to life! This is what the space that will be used for Ducky’s Room in the brand new Cardiac Care Unit at Akron Children’s Hospital currently looks like. A rendering of the space is coming next week just in time for . We’d love to see you there and celebrate this special space we hope honors Daphne and her life while supporting other heart families on some of their hardest days. RSVP and donation links can be found here: https://www.daphnesbraveheart.org/daphne-day-25

10/08/2025

Daphne Day tees and sweatshirts are here!

All proceeds will go toward Ducky's Room and DBH efforts 🤍

Shop the shirt: https://www.bonfire.com/daphne-day-2025/

10/06/2025

We've got games and more already coming in for Ducky's Room! What a special way to ring in our girl's first birthday month as we approach her first birthday party on the 25th 🥹

To everyone who has donated items ahead of Daphne Day, thank you 🤍

We still have lots on the Amazon Wishlist that we hope to fill Ducky's Room with: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/UB9GFLCV3R4G?aiChecklistEnabled=false

Coming to Daphne Day? Don't forget to register: https://hudsonucc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3172388/reservations/new

Donate directly to sponsor a Ducky's Care Bag: https://onrealm.org/FirstCongregati4941/-/form/give/Daphne

Donate to CHD research through our partnership with Akron Children's: https://give.akronchildrens.org/give/659280/ #!/donation/checkout

ICYMI: All things Daphne Day, Ducky's Room and Ducky's Care Bags: https://kassifilkins.substack.com/p/daphne-day-things-to-know-duckys

10/02/2025

🪿 It’s October, which means it’s Daphne’s birthday month!

In just a couple weeks, we will be joined by friends, family, community members, heart families, and so many more to celebrate one whole year of Daphne’s sweet soul and bright light.

As you likely already know, Daphne Day is happening October 25 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Hudson (47 Aurora Street, Hudson, Ohio 44236).

Here are some brief highlights of things to know, whether attending in-person or celebrating in spirit.

All things Daphne Day, Ducky's Room, Ducky's Care Bags and other DBH-related info (so far).

09/19/2025

Daphne Day 2025 🪿🫀

It’s hard to believe we’re coming up on Daphne’s first birthday next month 🥹 one whole year of knowing her sweet soul and seeing her light shine in ways we couldn’t have predicted.

To honor our sweet girl, we are inviting you all to celebrate Daphne Day with us on Saturday, October 25th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Hudson 🤍

The focus of this year’s event will be on Ducky’s Room, which we are SO excited to share with you all.

Through our partnership with Akron Children’s we are creating a private waiting space for families whose children are undergoing heart surgery. This space is born out of our first-hand experience during Daphne’s surgery day.

We want families to feel comfortable and have a sense of privacy as they are at some of their most vulnerable moments.

Our work through Daphne’s Brave Heart – in conjunction with First Serve – will also provide care bags for these families in the hopes that they feel seen in their journey and know they aren’t alone.

During Daphne Day, you will have a chance to put one of these care bags together, write an encouraging note to families, or sponsor a care bag or items that will be in Ducky’s Room.

You also can visit Daphne at her resting spot in the courtyard, leave her a birthday note, or plant a flower in her honor.

Since we know our support circle reaches far and wide across the States (and even reaching Australia!), we are working to create ways for folks unable to attend in person to sponsor items or give virtually. More details to come 🤍

We continue to be humbled by the love and support our family has continued to receive this year, and we couldn’t do this without you all.

Thank you for walking by our side and helping keep Daph’s light shining as we work to honor her and do a small part to support local families on their CHD journeys.

09/13/2025

What a day at the Cleveland Heart Walk! Cleveland is the #1 fundraising group this year. Thanks to all who walked with us to honor our brave girl this year 🤍 we could not walk through this journey without your support! Our team raised $3,447.02 in Daphne’s memory and we are so grateful for all the ways people continue to show up for her.