06/11/2025
Weston Update (Long and IMPORTANT post ahead):
"Weston Kayne Pangborn Research Endowment Fund"
It is incredibly difficult for me to put into words how PROUD, HONORED and EMOTIONAL this post is for me. As many of you know, after Weston passed away I vowed a few things:
1. I will ALWAYS continue to tell his story and how he influenced and deeply changed my life. He was and always will be a miracle to so many people - he continues to inspire and amaze me. He is the best!
2. I will ALWAYS continue to say his name. Talk about him and to him. Treasure him. Love him.
3. I wanted to find ways to honor him and improve the lives of kiddos just like him. When you lose a child, you want to find every way possible to remember them. Whether its through stories, philanthropy, business adventures or any other beautiful memories - you never, ever want to feel like you're forgetting them. It feels like the loss all over - trust me. Just as importantly - you never want anyone else to forget them. Naturally, it will happen. Time passes for everyone else - but for us bereaved parents, a part of us will never fully "move on" from that period in our lives. And honestly, maybe that part of us never wants to.
After Weston passed away, I NEEDED to do something to keep his legacy alive. I left my job in healthcare and started WKP Apparel (with the mission to give a portion of ALL profits back to CHD research). Yet, I continued to feel like I needed to do more for him - almost like I wasn't doing enough for him, the CHD community and for me (and my healing). Totally not true - but, very real. Enter Callie Jae, Katherine Jansen and Project Bubaloo.
I met Callie 2 weeks after Weston passed away. She sat on my couch and we talked for hours (in the middle of a snowstorm). She listened to my story, hugged me through the trauma and shared Theo's journey with me. Immediately I knew she was not only going to become a support system for me, but more importantly a friend who could understand me on an entirely different level. We are trauma bonded for life and I truly thank our son's for bringing us together. Without a doubt, they are raising some cain in heaven and we would have it no other way.
I knew I wanted to do more within the CHD community and my background in healthcare pushed my passions into the research "side". If we want to improve the lives of kids like Weston and Theo, we NEED to improve and expand the research into CHD - why it happens, how we can treat it and eventually prevent it.
Weston had HLHS - hypoplastic left heart syndrome and heterotaxy. On the spectrum of congenital heart defects - this one is severe, possibly one of the "worst". 30+ years ago, kiddos like Weston did not survive. Now, heart warriors with HLHS are THRIVING. They are living well into adulthood (after many surgical interventions) - but THEY ARE NOT CURED. There is no cure. This is why funding research is so critical.
I was passionate about any money we raised going towards CHD research. This is where we are going to see and induce change. This is how we are going to improve the lives of these kiddos.
Project Bubaloo does just that.
Since 2022 (when Weston passed) we decided that our business and any family/friends who wanted to donate in honor of Weston, should donate to Project Bubaloo and/or Children's Wisconsin. Children's Wisconsin is where Weston spent his entire life. We continually give ALL of our thanks to all of the amazing providers, nurses and staff at Children's. They gave us 6.5 months with our boy - time that I will never be able to thank them enough for.
Callie and Katherine knew that since I became a part of Project Bubaloo, I wanted to find more ways to honor Weston. Little did I know, they were working behind the scenes to do just that.
A few months ago, they surprised Bryon and I at my Grandma's house (wet your whistle Wednesday - for those who are in the know) with the BEST GIFT.
In honor of the money we have raised (this includes all of the WKP and Westons Warriors donors) and will continue to raise - an endowment was created at Children's Wisconsin in honor of Weston. The WESTON KAYNE PANGBORN RESEARCH ENDOWMENT FUND is here. Its real and we could not be more honored to continue Weston's legacy through this research endowment.
Now, he and his legacy will forever be at Children's Wisconsin. Thanks to Project Bubaloo and all of our amazing friends and family who continue to donate to Project Bubaloo in honor of Weston - this dream is now a reality.
We are going to strive to continue to raise money and supply his endowment year after year. The money raised will be used for research within Children's WI for kiddos like Weston and Theo - CHD warriors who are continuing to fight and those who haven't yet started their journey.
I can never thank Callie and Katherine enough for inviting us into the Project Bubaloo family. For allowing me to become part of the team and honoring Weston. He is my biggest blessing and this means more to me than I could ever describe.
Thank you to our family, friends, customers and loyal followers who continually support our business, Project Bubaloo and us personally. Without all of you - I for one, would be a mess, but more importantly none of this would be happening for our boy.
Let's keep raising money for these kiddos. Let's keep working hard (for whatever your purpose in life is) and always remember to find the "positive" - you truly never know where it will lead you.
We love you, P**t!
Love,
Bryon Pangborn, Samantha Pangborn and Weston Pangborn
