Roxie Forbes was born at Huntington Hospital on December 4, 2012. Slightly more than six and a half years later, she was rushed back to Huntington in full cardiac arrest after a preventable drowning at Summerkids camp in Altadena. She died less than 24 hours later.

Through the years, hospital staffers were no less than compassionate, cheerful, accommodating and wholly attentive. Roxie battled what most kids battle—sickness, bumps, bruises that occasionally landed her in the emergency room. Of course, with her immunodeficiency disorder, some of those visits were more trying than others. But, Rox always walked away with a smile, a sigh of relief and a bunch of high-fives, thanks in large part to how she was treated.

In the wake of her death, Meow Meow Foundation determined there could be no better community medical partner. Thus the journey began to share our story with senior hospital staff in the hope that a mutually beneficial exchange could blossom.

And it already has.

Huntington has agreed to distribute MMF drowning prevention education collateral at multiple touch points throughout the hospital, including the NICU, perinatal ward, new parent discharge packets and elsewhere. The hospital has also invited MMF to exhibit at its annual NICU event this April and present foundation drowning prevention initiatives to key community stakeholders at a June meeting.

Finally, we are deeply moved by Huntington’s generous donation, which will help facilitate a variety of educational and awareness measures, including a campaign during May’s National Water Safety Awareness Month.

Huntington, you always were and will forever be part of our family.