Family of the “blue baby” who was a recipient of the Christmas Fund’s generosity in 1946 moved to donate

Reardan resident K. Baumgartner grew up hearing family stories about a lifesaving heart surgery nearly 70 years ago for his aunt, Carol Lee Davis.

What he didn’t know until this Christmas season is the connection between that story and The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund. In 1946, the second year of the fund, regional donors raised nearly $6,000 to pay for the operation for little 8-year-old Carol Lee, called a “blue baby” because of her heart condition.

When he read about the connection in The Spokesman-Review on Nov. 29, Baumgartner said he was moved to give back to the Spokane community for its generosity so long ago.

His aunt lived until 2005, when she was well into her 60s.

“She probably wouldn’t have survived without that support, and she lived an amazingly long life,” said Baumgartner, 62. “I don’t think in that day people survived who had those heart conditions. That was the story I grew up with.”

Baumgartner and his wife, Janet, gave $100 to the Christmas Bureau, which today helps about 9,000 families in need receive toys and books for their children, and $15 to $30 food vouchers. The bureau runs daily through Saturday at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

With the recent donation, Baumgartner wrote, “In grateful appreciation for the support given to Aunt Carol Davis … the blue baby in 1946.”

Baumgartner works for the Reardan School District, where he manages the high school library and the information technology department. He grew up in Benton City, Washington, about 10 miles from the Tri-Cities, and also near where Carol Lee was raised.

She was the youngest among her siblings, who included Baumgartner’s mother, Helen. Family get-togethers over the years were frequent, he recalled.

“When I was growing up, Carol was around all the time; she was a close family member,” Baumgartner said. “My grandmother was a widow, so there were lots of gatherings at grandma Davis’ house.”

Back in 1946, Carol Lee needed the heart surgery to correct a congenital heart defect that prevents the tissues and organs from receiving enough oxygen, tinting the skin blue.

Her mother, widowed since Carol Lee was a year old, ran a small farm near Benton City, and finances were strained for the large family. The mom had to sell 10 of her cows to pay for her daughter’s surgeries, and an older brother had to quit school to work.

“I remember growing up there was a picture of Carol looking really weak,” Baumgartner said.

He also recalled that Carol recovered after the surgery, but she still had struggles. “She wasn’t completely healthy. She had some ongoing health issues, but she had a family and held down a job. When she got older, she moved to the Tri-Cities.”

Baumgartner said he always heard that a surgeon from the East Coast came to perform the surgery on his aunt.

“I think it was one of the first open-heart surgeries in the West, and $6,000 was an incredible amount of money back then,” he said.

He has since researched some of how the Baby Blue Fund started, including that a Benton City Post Office worker wrote a letter to the newspaper on his aunt’s behalf. Baumgartner also noted the numerous Spokane-area donations in 1946, some from children.

“I really appreciate what the people of Spokane have done for lots and lots of people, but it’s nice to have that connection to that beginning, to know that Carol was an impetus,” he said.

Today, all donations large and small still add up toward a brighter Christmas for Spokane-area families. This year’s goal is $525,000.

New donations

Maverick Yacht Club, of Coeur d’Alene, gave $810.

The Skaufel family gave $245.

Harold Bates, of Veradale, donated $200.

Greg Thomas and family, of Spokane, gave $200, noting, “The windstorm of 2015 found us at ground zero without power until Thanksgiving afternoon. James Welsh and the crew at Garco were kind to loan us a generator so we could stay at home. We have a daughter with disabilities, so it’s hard to stay at hotels or other homes that aren’t equipped like our home is. Garco helped keep us warm and have a few lights at night. In return for their generosity, they asked we ‘pass it on’ to the fund, and it’s with joy that we do.”

Mike and Rita Gibson, of Spokane, gave $200, writing, “Good luck with the goal.”

Sue DeFoe, of Spokane, donated $200.

Merline Jespersen, of Spokane, gave $200 “so someone else may have a Merry Christmas.”

Sally Robinette, of Spokane, gave $200 via PayPal.

Barbara Augusta, of Coeur d’Alene, gave $200 “on behalf of Barbara Augusta Gift Fund at Schwab Charitable.”

Three separate anonymous Cheney donors each gave $200.

Hank and Kathy Greer gave $200 cash.

An anonymous donor gave $200 cash.

PMG Care Transition Coordinators, of Spokane, gave $152 cash, writing, “This year instead of a Secret Santa, our group is donating any money we would have spent on each other to the Christmas Bureau.”

Rocky Sharp, of Spokane Valley, gave $150.

Beth Schomburg, of Spokane, gave $150, writing, “Thank you for all the hard work done to keep this wonderful bureau going.”

Richard Myers, of Spokane, gave $150.

Deborah Roundy, of Spokane, gave $150 via PayPal.

An anonymous donor dropped off $150 cash.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $125, writing, “Thank you S-R.”

Naomi Franklin, of Spokane, gave $125.

Barbara and Allan Park, of Veradale, gave $100, writing, “Thank you for all you do to reach out and help those in need.”

Virginia Linwick, of Veradale, gave $100, noting, “Thanks for once again offering this great service to our community.”

An anonymous Spokane Valley donor gave $100.

Jeannie Schmidt, of Spokane Valley, gave $100 via PayPal.

Elinor Iverson, of Spokane, gave $100, writing, “Thank you for your good work. We are blessed with many things, good friends, family, food and warmth in cool weather and too many other wonderful things to mention. This gift is my annual memorial to my parents, deceased husband Jack, and all my family.”

Gail and David Deroshia, of Spokane, gave $100, writing, “We would like to share our blessings with those in need.”

Emmett and Marylu Arndt, of Spokane, gave $100, noting, “Christmas wishes to all volunteers and recipients.”

Nancy Sherman and Marlene Westhoff, of Spokane, gave $100, writing, “Thank you for your service to help those less fortunate.”

Catherine Lundberg, John and Rebecca Severinghaus, Rick and Cyndi Tobias, Annette LaCombe, E. K. Krauss, John and Sharon Sutton, Elaine Shaw, Leslie and Emil Wunderle, Diane Gottsch, Joan Pribnow, Richard and Mary Schroeder, Joan Peden, Bob and Jeanne Dault, Donald and Diana Storey, Ray and Klea Copeland, and Jim and Barbara Groves, all of Spokane, each gave $100.

Sara Gehr, of Spokane, sent $100 via PayPal.

Lynne and Carl Baum, of Spokane, gave $100 via PayPal.

Hal Wilson, of Spokane, gave $100, writing, “A Merry Christmas to all! Hopefully this can be helpful.”

Cleo Gazette, of Spokane, donated $100 “made on behalf of C. Peggy Gazette Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable.”

Pam and Randy (requesting no last name), of Spokane, gave $100, writing, “Thank you for the excellent work you do supporting the community.”

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $100. “Since we have been on a fixed income, things have changed for us. It’s kind of hard, especially at the end of each month. Even so, we are doing better than the families and people who need your help. God bless all of you.”

John and Karen Wallingford, of Spokane, gave $100 “with special thanks to the volunteers who make the Christmas Bureau happen.”

An anonymous donor in Peoria, Arizona, gave $100, writing, “Merry Christmas to all at the S-R Christmas Fund. You do great work!”

Beverly Hayes, of Nine Mile Falls, gave $100, writing, “Thanks for all the hard work you do for others.”

Gary and Kathryn James, of Nine Mile Falls, gave $100, writing, “Thank you so much for providing this service.

Joanne Haglund, of Nine Mile Falls, gave $100.

Charles Carver, of Medical Lake, gave $100.

Charlotte Stout, of Liberty Lake, gave $100 via PayPal.

Amy Flowers, of Kirkland, Washington, gave $100 via PayPal.

Ellen Krehbiel and Jeff Wasson, of Colbert, gave $100 “in honor of the Wasson and Krehbiel families.”

Richard and Karen Steele gave $100.

Judith and Noble Hundley gave $100.

Shelly and Kris Mader gave $100 cash.

Linda Williamson, of Spokane, gave $75.

Jeff Stevens, of Spokane, gave $75 via PayPal.

Katrin Trier gave $61.

St. Mary’s Pinochle Group, of Spokane Valley, gave $60 cash.

Shirley Schoenleber, Vernon Knudsen, Peter Weller, and Mr. and Mrs. Tony Faraca, all of Spokane Valley, each gave $50.

Carole Haegele, of Spokane Valley, gave $50 via PayPal “in memory of Richard L. Haegele.”

Jane Courtright, of Spokane, gave $50, writing, “Thanks for all the great work you do at Christmastime.”

Three separate anonymous Spokane donors each gave $50.

John Harmon and Kathyrn Robinson, of Spokane, gave $50 “in memory of parents no longer with us.”

Robert Lafferty, Kent Richardson, and Susan Wotring, all of Spokane, each gave $50 via PayPal.

Cynthia, Kaitlyn and Kyile LeBlanc, of Greenacres, gave $50 “in honor of Helene LeBlanc, who we will miss so much at family celebrations. We hope this brings joy and happiness to those families in need.”

An anonymous donor gave $50 “in memory of Colin Garbett.”

An anonymous donor gave $50, writing, “Please use it to help support the Christmas cheer established by the Christmas Bureau.”

Dick and Judy Garrison gave $40 cash.

Charmagne Woodard, of Spokane Valley, gave $35 via PayPal, writing, “use for any child.”

Margot Wilson and Mary Smith, of Spokane Valley, gave $30, writing, “Spokane is so very fortunate to have such a wonderful Christmas Bureau! This isn’t much but I know it will be used wisely to help others have a Merry Christmas.”

Frances and Bob Mann, of Liberty Lake, gave $30.

John and Marilyn Ellis, of Friday Harbor, Washington, gave $30, writing, “Please contribute to the children’s fund for their toys, meal gifting, in the names given by Stephanie Zoldak, Alex and Ethan, Lucas and Hanna. God Bless the children and you.”

Jim and Sandie Lee Donahue, of Spokane Valley, gave $25.

Carol McKenny, of Spokane, gave $25 via PayPal.

Dan Hallock, of Spokane, gave $25 via PayPal.

An anonymous donor gave $25 cash.

An anonymous Spokane Valley donor gave $20 cash.

Mr. and Mrs. John Allen, of Spokane, gave $20.

Jane Lacock, of Deer Park, gave $20 with the note, “Just a little donation for the children.”

Note: For donations made through PayPal, The Spokesman-Review contributed the PayPal processing fee.