One little girl with one very big heart

By Kris Reich, Director of Communications, Sisters of Mercy of NC

Funny, she looks like most other eight-year-olds! You would never expect it, but Jackie Flynn, a petite second grader who attends Charlotte Preparatory School, has a very rare heart condition.

No, her heart isn't enlarged, diseased or otherwise compromised — instead, it is unusually generous and "selfless."

This story is no fairy tale. It began several weeks back when Jackie's mother, Carolanne Flynn, called Sister Carmelita Hagan, Volunteer Coordinator at Catherine's House, a transitional residential facility for women and women with children who are homeless. She was investigating opportunities for volunteerism and wanted to tour the facility. She came, she saw and she responded to the residents. Not only did she respond, she shared with her daughter and husband, Chip, what she had seen and heard there.
At about this same time, Jackie and her family, were preparing for her eighth birthday party. A celebration scheduled for Feb. 9th at "Space Cadets," a Charlotte-area "Bounce House.* (See explanation below.) A lot of bouncing would be followed by lunch and then all the guests would gather and play arcade games to their hearts content! Eighteen of Jackie's friends would be invited to attend.

Then it happened! In the midst of planning her party, Jackie somehow started thinking about the gifts she would receive at the party. Pay attention, here's where the "rare" part comes in! She didn't think of what she might receive!

Instead, she realized that the party her parents had planned and that a day of enthusiastic play surrounded by her close friends was gift enough. So, she asked her mother if, in lieu of gifts, she could ask her guests to donate "gift cards" which she could give to the residents at Catherine's House.

"I wanted to do something to help the homeless people so they could buy something for their children and for themselves," Jackie said.

And, she did! The gift cards of varying donations were presented Feb. 28th to Volunteer Coordinator, Sister Carmelita and Catherine's House CEO, Karen Andrews, and totaled a whopping $345! Jackie's selfless act to help the women and children certainly didn't go unnoticed by the parents of her party guests either! Jackie's mom said several of the mothers commented on the great idea and what a beneficial learning and service experience it could provide.

As I said before, she is a young lady with a special heart condition, and after meeting Jackie and her mother, Carolanne, I suspect that her incredibly large heart may well be genetic!

* A "Bounce House" is an indoor venue filled with various inflatable play structures, jumps, slides, obstacle courses and/or developmental games providing kids with hours of fun and exercise within a safe environment.