Sandy Kothari’s Harrison’s Heroes: Turning Pain Into Positive Power

 In December of 2010, Sandy Kothari went through one of the most painful experiences possible when she lost her son, Harrison. After being diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst at two, he underwent brain surgery; he was in and out of the hospital for many months. He later passed due to an infection unrelated to the surgery after more than 30 days with his parents taking shifts by him all day.

While the loss of her son was deeply horrific, eventually, Kothari was able to transform her trauma into helping others going through similar experiences: She founded Harrison’s Heroes in loving memory of Harrison Kothari. Knowing that not all parents are able to be bedside constantly, and that many institutions are severely understaffed with few programs to assist in these situations, the Texas native decided to help. Alongside running her family business, Katy’s Instruments, now, she also leads this wonderful organization to help families and children like Harrison. Read on for more.

SBS: You experienced such a tragic loss but have been able to create such a positive impact. How did you use your experience to inspire Harrison’s Heroes?

Sandy Kothari: Through my son, Harrison’s, death I was able to understand what the child-life programs in hospitals lacked. I had been in the hospital day and night with my two-year-old son. It was very challenging because the hospital didn’t have too many programs available to children at that time, and for sure even less for someone who was two.

 SBS: How has Harrison’s Heroes grown along the way?

SK: We have grown from starting with a grant of $25,000 to now raising over $300,000 a year. We have numerous schools, athletic teams and companies that support us financially, and we also have volunteers.  

SBS: What are some of the unique programs you offer?

SK: We offer Waggin’ Wednesday’s, which happen weekly: Dogs come and a theme or project is decoded, and the dogs interact with the patients. We also team up with the art therapists with our two art studios and mobile art carts to help with everything art related to help the children with long term hospital stays. Another offers haircuts and styles to cancer patients with our mobile hair salon. We recently provided Texas Children’s with a life size lite bright called the Litezilla. All of these things above were not offered at the time my son was in the hospital.  

SBS: What is your approach in terms of figuring out how to best support different hospitals and needs?

SK: There is something for everyone that wants to help depending on what makes the patients more comfortable. We listen to each hospital to see what their needs are, because each hospital specializes in therapies for different ailments. So, we customize what we do for each hospital to best fit their needs. A cancer patient needs different care then a heart patient.  We listen and take lead from each hospital. Sometimes I come across products that I think can help a hospital, and then I pitch it to the right person so we can hopefully get the product or program in there. 

SBS: What do you think is important for people to understand about a foundation like yours?

SK: It’s important to support because a lot of people don’t know that all hospitals pediatric departments are underfunded. People don’t realize that parents are already struggling to be there for their kids every day, which some can’t be due to a job. We come in and hopefully take some stress away from them. They are concerned for their child already, and they don’t need to worry about how to make them feel more comfortable in an uncertain and uncomfortable setting.  

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Sandy’s SBS Mantra: St and Be Brave. We use your socks in our birthday bag programs as well as for cancer patients. They are perfect for children in the hospital that are having a hard time.  

The zaniest thing about Sandy: I love sweet and sour candy!

Sandy’s Texas Faves:

Calming Activity: Painting and crafts
Favorite Books: The Complete Poetry by Maya Angelou and Inward by Yung Pueblo
Healthy Restaurant: Hungry’s
Splurge Restaurant: Pappa’s Bros Steakhouse
Fitness studio: Houston Raquet Club
Fun activity: Gardening and cooking