The Ira Hays Wristband Club

A few friends of Ira found themselves recipients of the "Ira Lester Hays Wristband Club award", by being the proud donors for the 1000th wristband. You've heard it mentioned a few times over the last few weeks, but here is their story and their hands of compassion and love.

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Mr. O’Connor’s 5th grade class from Westchester County, New York has been following Ira’s story throughout the entire 2005-2006 school year. They have been routinely checking Brooklyn and Beyond for updates on how Ira and the Hays family were doing and they have experienced the ups and downs for Ira, his big sister, and his parents by reading Joe’s blog entries each week in class. Mr. O’Connor’s daughter, Alix, was one of Ira’s roommates in the NICU in May-June 2005 since she too was born with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). The O’Connor’s were fortunate enough to become friends with the Hays family, and Mr. O’Connor enjoyed sharing stories with his students about these wonderful people and this impressive baby boy. Mr. O’Connor’s class wanted to let Ira, Sophia, Joe, and Laura know that they are thinking about them always and pulling for Ira each and every day. They are honored to be part of the “club” and they wear their Ira bracelets proudly around their school.