Our family and I do a tree each year in memory of my nephew, Collin Halling.
In 2014, at my sister's anatomy scan at 18 weeks, they discovered they would be having another boy. They also found out that sweet Collin had not one but four heart defects. The most serious defect being Transposition of the Great Arteries or TGA. Thankfully we were aware of the heart defects before his birth, and were able to prepare for his arrival. He was born at University of Utah Hospital and immediately transferred over to Primary Children's Hospital.
Collin's birth was a miracle. He arrived plump and pink and STRONG! He spent his first days at Primary Childrens before undergoing his first open heart surgery at just one week old. He did so well that he was sent home about a week later to be loved on by all of his family, especially his Mom, Dad, and big brother Emerson.
Collin was strong, beautiful, content, peaceful and loved by so many. Sadly, at just 6 weeks old Collin passed away unexpectedly.
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| Sept. 30, 2014 ~ Nov. 13, 2014 |
A few weeks after Collin passed away our family attended the Festival Of Trees for the first time and we were so touched and overwhelmed with the Festival we knew we needed to be a part of it.
In 2015, my little family (kids and husband) surprised my sister and her husband with a tree for Collin called "Courageous Collin"! No one knew we were doing a tree and it was the best gift we could ever give to my sister and her family!!
Since then it has grown into our family's favorite event of the year. Below is our tree from 2016 called Christmas for Collin.
Our fun at Festival of Trees has spread to include so much of our family; Collin's parents and siblings, cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, even Great Grandparents, and friends from all over the country all participate in this event in his memory. We did a big display last year (2017) called Collin's Christmas. It featured three trees, one of which had a moving Santa that was helping decorate the tree.
Not only do we donate a tree, but we love being a part of different aspects of the Festival as well. We have been hosts on Auction Night, helped wrap and deliver trees, sold tickets and held craft nights to make gifts for the Gift Shoppe.
We are SO thankful for the Festival and what it does for Primary Children's Hospital. We are even more thankful for Primary Children's Hospital for what they've done for our Nephew and many other families and we we are forever thankful for Festival of Trees, where we can remember, honor, and share Collin with others.
