I can't believe how far we have come. I know it's not New Years yet, but it is close to Christmas, and I want to celebrate. I want to celebrate all of the gifts that you have given me through PatPat's Hats.

To Give you all an idea of what we have accomplished in 2012:

In January we donated 650 Hats to Smillow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital
and the Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital
Being able to personally thank all of the people that helped Patrick through treatment was simply amazing.

In March, we donated about 100 more hats to the Hemotology/Oncology Clinic at Smillow, so that the kids could have lighter weight hats for the spring.

In August we donated 150 hats to Cranio Care Bears.  Cranio Care Bears spreads awareness, support & compassion through loving care packages to families of children facing surgery for craniosynostosis.

In September we were THRILLED to become involved with Jessie's Joy Jars.  JoyJars® were created by Jessie Rees during her 10 month courageous fight with two brain tumors. Jessie used her JoyJars® to spread hope, joy and love to children fighting life altering medical illnesses across America in homes and hospitals. Because of Jessie's Joy Jars we have had PatPat's Hats sent as far away as New Zealand !! We have donated 150 hats to the Joy Jars, and look forward to donating more in the future.

Here is PatPat Himself helping pack up hats to send to the North Carolina Chapter of the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation.  We were able to provide 100 hats for their care packages which are distributed to children receiving treatment for Hydrocephalus.

In October the East Coast was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. We couldn't sit idly by knowing that it was very quickly getting colder, and these families had lost everything. The students at Lowell Community Charter Public School immediately stepped up to the plate, and collected over 200 hats!! These hats were donated to Spread the Warmth in New Jersey.

We come from a large family of people that are constantly giving of their time and efforts to help people in need, and our cousins are no exception to this rule. When our cousin Matt heard about the devastation on Staten Island, he immediately went into action. As a fire fighter, Matt contacted the Stephen Siller Foundation . While he anticipated taking a car load of supplies, it turned into 2 box trucks, and 2 brothers in law. In those trucks...... about 100 of PatPat's Hats.

Throughout the year we have also heard from individual families in need of hats. Sweet Jonathan Fighting Heptoblastoma, The amazingly strong and brave Emma fighting Franconi Anemia, Dear Emily preparing for her bone marrow transplant, and many many more.


If you have done the math along with this post, That will tell you that in 2012 PatPat's Hats has donated

1450 hats !!!!

People come up to me all the time and say Thank you. I did not personally make these hats. PatPat's Hats is a success because of all of you who have helped us reach all of these children.

See you in 2013 !!!!

Happy 4th birthday Patrick James!!!

4 years ago you came into our lives and our lives have never been the same. Being your aunt has been the most rewarding role I have ever played in my life.

You have given me a reason to smile every day. Your smile and laughter are infectious.

Some day you may understand what your courage means to all of us. You may some day understand the impact that you have made on all of our lives.

For me, you have helped me find a purpose. You have given me a task to do. Your strength and courage have helped us reach out to over 1,000 children in need.

Have a magical birthday Patrick James.