Little girl with a big heart gets a lot of love from the community

The communities of Flying Dust First Nation and Meadow Lake can show spunky four-year-old Rawlings Norman some love while she wages her ongoing battle with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) by supporting the family’s fundraiser.

The little girl and her family is in Edmonton due to unexpected complications with her latest heart surgery.

Rawlings was born with the congenital heart condition. HLHS is when the left side of the heart doesn’t develop properly.

“It revealed itself during my daughter’s ultrasound,” said Rawling’s grandma Joelle Norman. “When she was born, she needed her first surgery.”

Since then, Rawlings has had three major open-heart surgeries and other procedures.

The four-year-old has not let her health condition slow her down.

“She is very strong willed, stubborn, funny, and caring,” said Joelle. “She loves her brother and misses him dearly. They are best friends.”

Rawlings is wise beyond her years characterized by her quick wit, which draws people to her.

“She has a great sense of humour,” said Joelle. “She is 13 in a four-year-old body.”

Rawlings had her first of three recent surgeries at the end of January at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.

“We thought it would be like her surgery when she was four months old,” said Joelle. “We

would come in she would have surgery, she would heal, and we would go home.”

That was not the case this time.

Rawling needed two more follow-up surgeries this month.

“She is not healing how they expected her to be healing,” explained Joelle.

As a result the family has had to extend their stay in the city.

The Flying Dust First Nation organized a silent and baking auction to help with medical bills during the family’s stay.

“Flying Dust is a community who will go out of their way to look after their members,” said

Joelle.

It isn’t just the Flying Dust Community that’s answered the call it’s also the surrounding community of Meadow Lake.

“She is a little girl who has impacted people she doesn’t even know,” said Joelle.

The grateful grandmother said the generosity of everyone serves as a good reminder that there is more good in the world than bad.

“It’s reminding us that there are people who love, care, and want children and people to be okay,” said Joelle. “We tend to forget that.”

Auctions are a common way to raise funds in the community for a quick fundraiser.

The silent and baking auction started with a call out on social media.

“The response has been amazing,” Joelle.

The grandmother says her words can’t express how truly grateful she is for the response from everyone.

“The whole community of Meadow Lake who are supporting us,” said Joelle. “People from Flying Dust and Meadow Lake who we don’t know have set up fundraisers.”

For those interested in contributing Flying Dust First Nation Health and Wellness

donations can be dropped off at Health Reception.

For the baking auction, they ask for a picture of the items for the baking auction.

The bidding will close at 2:00 PM on Friday, February 28th, 2025, and can be done at the band office or on the Flying Dust First Nation Facebook event page.

All items can be picked up or delivered once payment has been received.

In addition to the auction items and other fundraisers, the family is touched by the outpouring of well wishes.

“We are thankful for all the prayers most of all,” said Joelle. “God bless everybody.”