A mom creates unique onesies for tiny NICU patients after seeing miracles happen to her youngest daughter. She wanted to give back to the community after her life-saving heart transplant.
On May 18, 2018, Kate Bowen gave birth to her youngest daughter, Georgia. Her newborn had life-threatening complications for months after suffering a rare cardiac arrest. The infant also had to rely on a machine to help her pump blood throughout her body.
Saw many miracles since the baby's birth
When Georgia was just four months, she endured a heart transplant. Bowen told "PEOPLE" that she and her daughter saw many miracles throughout and are still seeing more of them. After her youngest had recovered, she went home with her three other siblings.
The "Petit Peony" children's clothing designer and founder, Bowen, wanted to help others whose kids are also underground medical crises. She created special onesies so babies, she calls, "Georgie" could have comfortable clothing to wear.
Developed onesies for tiny NICU patients
Due to the pandemic, the 38-year-old mom expanded her business in early 2020. She quickly tapped her clothing business supply chain to produce one million masks to donate to Boston Children's after the medical director told her its needs.
Bowen's creation of GCB Medical Supply in May increased its sales, including gowns and PPE. Now, it services roughly 150 hospitals nationwide. The mom-of-four launched the Georgia Claire Bowen Foundation by the end of the year.
Donates to the pediatric heart research
Ten percent of her company's profits, amounting to $1M, went to the Boston Children's Hospital's pediatric heart research. She plans to donate one million dollars yearly as long as she could.
The initial money she donated has helped establish the Georgia Claire Bowen IMPACT (Imagining More Possibilities in Advanced Cardiac Therapies) Initiative. It would support cutting-edge treatments at Boston Children's.
A pediatric cardiologist from the hospital, Christinia VanderPuym, MD, believes that many families would be at their darkest when placed in that circumstance. She said that the family had turned its tragedy into a positive opportunity across the country.
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She explained that while Georgia was lucky to survive her condition after getting the transplant, the toddler still has a long medical journey, and all of them are involved. Bowen's youngest daughter may suffer if her body rejects the heart growing up.
The Warren, Vermont, mom said that her child's life depends on innovation. She explained that the artificial-heart research that she funds helps her send pictures of her daughter's heart to her doctors. Apart from that, it has also helped to create a portable ultrasound wand.
Bowen said that she does not want to sit back and watch other people find answers to her daughter's health. She believes she needs to be active in finding advancement in her field to make sure her daughter could change the world in the future.
