Dear Friends, 

Nearly ten years have now gone by since our beloved son Nicholas passed away at our home on the evening of September 30, 2012. He was born with a severe form of early-onset Marfan Syndrome that caused rapidly progressing heart, lung and spinal problems. In his short three-and-a-half years, he endured with awe-inspiring grace and courage several life-saving surgeries, dozens of smaller (but still painful) procedures, and the frequent use of ankle braces, spinal casts, supplemental oxygen and ultimately a bi-pap machine that helped him breathe. He had a strong and joyful spirit that constantly surprised -- and continues to inspire -- those who met him. We miss him dearly, think of him constantly, and try to honor him in the way we live our lives. So many things are different without him, and yet we also feel his presence in many ways, every day.

Nick loved his doctors, nurses and other wonderful caretakers at BCH, so it made sense that when we established the Nicholas A. Owens Memorial Fund, its first priority would be to recognize and promote compassionate care at BCH. The Kane/Owens Award for Compassionate Care is now given annually to a cardiology fellow who demonstrates exceptional integrity, empathy, respect and compassion while providing excellent clinical care. The award is named in part for former BCH cardiology fellow (and current BCH attending physician) David Kane, who embodied those traits with grace and professionalism during the two years he cared for Nicholas and his family. It includes a generous cash stipend for the award winners (to be used in any way they see fit), along with an engraved crystal butterfly that symbolizes Nick's spirit. As of late June 2022, the award has been given to ten truly exceptional doctors: 

2013     David Schidlow, M.D. (now at Boston Children’s Hospital)

2014     Benjamin Kozyak, M.D. (now at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

2015     Amanda Marma, M.D. (now at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago)

2016     David Sutcliffe, M.D. (Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City)

2017     Matan Setton, M.D. (now at Columbia + New York Presbyterian)

2018     Stephanie Chandler, M.D. (now at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago)

2019     Eric Feins, M.D. (now at Boston Children’s Hospital)

2020     Meaghan Beattie, M.D. (now at Stanford Children’s Health)

2021     Ryan Williams, M.D. (now at UCLA Medical Center)

2022     Khayri Shalhoub, MD (starting July 2022 at Texas Children’s Hospital)

We love that Nick is now a part of their lives, just as they are a part of his legacy.

We want to thank the more than one hundred (!) friends and family members who have already generously donated to the fund and/or the Walk for Children's Hospital in Nick's name. Your philanthropy has already made an impact at BCH and beyond, and will continue to do so as the fund increases and expands its activities. At present the Nicholas Owens Memorial Fund has received more than $150,000 in gifts and is generating annual funds for the Kane/Owens award. As the fund grows in the years to come, it will be able to provide financial support for annual events about compassionate care, and perhaps also funds for the palliative care program (PACT) that meant so much to our family. 

The fund remains open, in perpetuity, to donations large and small, and we thank anyone reading this in advance for considering making a gift in Nick's honor. 

Thank you so much,

Erik, Leslie and Graham Owens
June 2022