Help Mabel Walk

Please join us at our first fundraising event of the year at:

The Thirsty Koala, 35-12 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

for a night of live rebetiko music (courtesy of Rebetiko NYC), food, drinks, and more. The event will be held on:

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 from 6:00-9:00PM

There will be a charge of $75 per person, to be collected at the door. 100% of proceeds will go towards Mabel's surgery (a selective dorsal rhizotomy) so that she can walk (more information regarding Mabel can be found here: Help Mabel Walk).

Mabel Argiro is a happy 6 year old who was born with cerebral palsy. She and her twin brother, Arthur, arrived 10 weeks earlier than expected, spending their first 2 months in the NICU.

As a baby, Mabel faced many challenges; her limbs were stiff and her arms stretched down her body with straight legs. She started physiotherapy at just 3 months old, a journey that continues through today and will extend into her adulthood. Cerebral palsy affects her arms and legs, resulting in spasticity – sudden involuntary muscle movements and tensions, more noticeable in her legs. She has yet to walk independently and relies on a walker for short walks and a pram for daily mobility. Mabel is a vibrant soul, full of love and curiosity. She enjoys chatting, singing, and asking Google speakers for songs and Peppa Pig stories. She loves reading, swimming, elevators, microphones, playground swings, and her tablet. She even knows how to say "I love you" in 10 languages and often shares this love with everyone around her.

Here's the exciting news: Mabel has been medically approved for a life-changing procedure called a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). This groundbreaking surgery involves precisely severing sensory nerve fibers connecting her muscles to the spinal cord.  This will take place at the Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri by its inventor, Dr. T.S. Park. 

Cerebral palsy spasticity poseS challenges, hindering muscle growth, causing painful muscle contractures and orthopedic deformities. However, with SDR, Mabel’s family has a chance to address her spasticity at this early stage, potentially reducing the severity of these deformities and giving Mabel a brighter future.  The trip to the United States will be for 6 weeks and will include 3 weeks of rehabilitation, which in turn will require the rental and purchase of medical equipment.

We believe in Mabel's strength and resilience. She's already come a long way, but SDR is a costly procedure.

This surgery will significantly improve Mabel’s quality of life.

With your support, we can make Mabel's dreams come true.

We hope to raise enough money to contribute toward's Mabel's surgery as well as the medical equipment she will need - our fundraising goal is $25,000. To donate, please click here.

Hellenic Heart for Kids Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and any donations made are tax deductible.

Thank you so much to The Thirsty Koala, Rebetiko NYC, and to everyone else who has come together for this great cause!