Children's in The New York Times

To get through harried weekdays, many of us browse the news online. But on the weekend, I still like to sit down at the table with a cup of coffee and a real newspaper. You know, the kind that dirties your fingers with news print, the kind you have to hold with both hands. I always find such a sense of accomplishment on the last page of a real newspaper.

Today, I've made a date with The New York Times, partly because I want to make myself a little smarter, mostly because I want to see these two sweeties' little faces smiling back at me.


The Smith sisters share most everything — a pink and purple princess room, a beagle named Charlie and sadly, the same heart condition. Shayde, on the left, is 9, and Emily, on the right, is 7. Both were diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy and placed on the heart transplant list at Children's in April 2008. Little Emily received a new heart in January 2009. Shayde still waits for hers.

So, what are they doing in The New York Times? Today, Sunday, June 21, the girls' story will be shared across the nation in an advertisement in a special edition of The New York Times Magazine dedicated solely to pediatric health issues. They're helping us show readers across the country why Children's is one of the 10 best pediatric hospitals in America.

All of us at Children's are so proud of these little cuties. Both girls have shown such courage, not only for themselves, but for each other. So, today we celebrate the first half of their success story and say a little prayer for the second half we all eagerly await.

Read more about the Smith sisters' amazing story; scroll through pictures of them, their family and their pooch; and watch a video of the girls at home.

And if you can make time, treat your intellect and warm your heart. Grab a copy of today's The New York Times.