4titude Award winner Jane Perillo (snanimals.com owner)
The recipient of our first "4titude Award" goes to Jane Perillo, owner of www.snanimals.com. I recently came across her website that offers some really cute hand painted shoes and accessories for children. However, what really got my attention was the story behind this company. As you might have guessed from looking at my website www.mom4life.com, I am all about the people behind the products and not just the products they sell. This company, named snanimals was started in loving memory of their daughter, Emma who was diagnosed on 7/14/05 at the age of 22 months with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. She was one of 3 surviving quadruplets born 14 weeks early. Emma was a bright little girl that could read and spell at 2 1/2 years old and loved animals. Her love for animals spurred her mom to make her an pair of zebra panted shoes which was the start of snanimals. On January 19, 2007, Emma passed away unexpectedly in her sleep. Emma's mom Jane says, "We are devastated and sorrowful but believe she lives on in every pair of shoes we make. So when we say they are hand-painted with love, it is more love than you could ever know. 5 % of our on-line sales will be donated to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association in memory of Emma." Please visit: http://www.phassociation.org/ for more information on pulmonary hypertension. Also, visit: www.carepages.com and after signing in go to "ouremma" to read more about Emma's journey.
The 4titude Award is given to moms who have endured a trial, set back or loss in their life that has spurred them on to do create something of value out of their pain. If you know of someone that would be a good canidate for the 4titude Award, please contact us!
What a sad but couragous story - these are the kind of things I get so emotional about...what an awesome story!!!!!! My sister lost her daughter in giving birth prematurely on May 23, 2006 - her name was Emma as well.....the beautiful thing is that these little Emma's get to grow up with GOD!! God Bless!
Posted by: Amy | June 19, 2007 at 01:05 PM
Thank you for your post Amy, I couldn't agree more.
Posted by: Heather Ledeboer | June 20, 2007 at 01:05 AM
I especially love that Amy says that they get to grow up with God. That's so true and sometimes in my grief I forget that. Emma loved God and I know she is very happy and healthy right now. It is those of us left behind who are still in pain.
Thank you for reading about Emma (and thank you for sharing our story Heather!)
Posted by: Jane Perillo | June 20, 2007 at 06:31 AM
Oh my, that is just beautiful!
Steph
Posted by: Adventures In Babywearing | June 24, 2007 at 11:45 AM