Holiday Photos of Queen Ava

We wanted to share these beautiful holiday photos of Coronet's Little Miss Sweetheart Supreme Queen, Ava!

Check out the latest Pageantry Magazine!

Take a look at page 107 in the latest issue of Pageantry Magazine for a photo of Queen Terri and Queen Ava!!!! For some reason, probably because I submitted it digitally, Queen Madi's photo wasn't in this issue! I'll resubmit by snail mail, Queen Madi!!!!!!!
Here's a link to the digital Pageantry edition:
http://www.pageantry-digital.com/pageantry/winter2009/?u1=texterity
Click on pages and check out page 107.
To move quickly back to this page click on the down arrow beside the backspace button (which shows "Recent Pages") and click on Coronet Pageants.

Queen Madi says BOO to Diabetes

Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold, Madi Dodge (seen here at a different ADA fundraiser), is holding her 5th Halloween Diabetes Skate 4 a Cure to raise money for her ADA Walk team, Madison's Prayer. She has held a Springtime Skate 4 a Cure for 8 years!! You're a Bootiful person, Queen Madi!

Queen Ava turns three!

Queen Ava is a joyful three year old now!!! What a darling photo!!

Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold Madi participates in Sugar Free Weekend Retreat

Madi participated in the Sugar Free Weekend Retreat. She taught a workshop she devised herself which is titled "Taming the Diabetes Monster". She also was trilled to have Congressman Mike Castle attend the retreat.

Announcing Coronet's Nat'l Miss Heart of America Rachel B.

Coronet is pleased to announce (from Las Vegas :-) the name of our new Nat'l Miss Heart of America.
Rachel Bettendorf is a middle school student from North Carolina who stays busy with guitar lessons, choir, touring choir, 4-H, dog training, children's theater classes. Rachel was an outstanding scholarship student at a jazz camp this summer with the scholarship provided by the Community School of the Arts, featured on the Today Show. Those who are lucky enough to hear her play want to get her autograph now!
Rachel is a wonderful sister and daughter in a very loving family. We know she'll be an incredible addition to our royal family as well.

The announcement is coming soon!! We say goodbye and thanks to Queen Samantha

We should be announcing a new Queen tomorrow!!
As we get ready to announce a new Coronet's Nat'l Miss Heart of America we want to thank our outgoing Queen, Samantha Rose Johnson of Kentucky!!!!!!!!! You were a great representative Samantha!!
PLEASE SEE OUR ARCHIVES SLIDESHOW AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE HOME PAGE!!! OUR QUEENS ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE IN OUR HEARTS!

Who will be the next Nat'l Miss Heart of America?

We're looking for the next Nat'l Miss Heart of America! There's still time to apply!

Queen Samantha is Miss Personality

Congratulations to Queen Samantha for being named "Miss Personality" at her summer camp!

Queen Madi has a birthday!

Happy Birthday to Queen Madi!! May it be a wonderful year!
Queen Madi's latest honor is to be photographed for an ADA billboard. We hope she shares a photo of the billboard when it's finished!

Queen Ava is doing well

Queen Ava is recovering so well from her recent surgeries. Thanks to all who were thinking of her. Her smile says it all!

Official Portraits of two Queens

We're delighted to have some beautiful portraits of Nat'l Ms Heart of the Home Terri Helmick and Nat'l Little Miss Sweetheart Ava Elizabeth Helmick! Terri did a wonderful job with the photography--one of her many gifts!! We hope to share more of her work later! :-)

Queen Madi sings the National Anthem

Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold Madi Dodge has been keeping VERY busy with the summer intensive for the Broadway Bound Program. She graduated from 8th grade this year and she also had a wonderful confirmation service. She's pictured here singing the National Anthem at a Relay for Life.

Nat'l Little Miss Sweetheart Ava Elizabeth Helmick

Coronet Pageants is pleased to be able to make the announcement of the winner of the Supreme Queen title for Nat'l Little Miss Sweetheart. Ava Elizabeth Helmick is the daughter of Terri and Brian Helmick and the sister of Lexis and Emeline. She is a survivor of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Having been given a 20-30% chance of survival at birth, Ava is quite a fighter. She survived and grew stronger and returned home with her family. Then, in words from Ava's blog:
"...on October 3rd, 2008, just a month after my 2nd birthday I got deathly ill. My Mommy took me to the doctor that Friday three times. She knew in her heart that I had re-herniated. She pushed really hard for my medical care. After almost 30 hours from my first symptom I was being air lifted to University Hospitals in Iowa City.... I spent 47 days in the hospital, most of that in the intensive care unit. I am at home now where my Mommy does all my nursing care. She tells me I am a lot of work but I know she loves me and that is why she still smiles and makes me laugh....I've been told I'm a brave little girl. God has blessed me and my family beyond measure. My Mommy feels lucky that we still here with them. I hear I have touched so many lives.
This is my story. I am told I am a Miracle. I am!"
Because of Ava's fight, her parents have done a great deal for CDH awareness. The whole family has been involved in starting an awareness walk and Terri was instrumental in having a proclamation signed by Iowa's Governor Culver.
Ava will have another surgery on June 5th to open blockages in her small bowel. Please pray for Queen Ava, Queen Terri, and the rest of the Helmick family at this time.

Welcome Queen Terri!

Coronet Pageants is VERY PROUD to announce the 2009 Nat'l Ms. Heart of the Home Supreme Queen, Terri Helmick of Iowa!
Terri is an incredible wife and devoted mother of three beautiful girls, Lexis, Emeline, and Ava. She's a talented photographer and singer, but her life took a detour at the birth of her youngest daughter. Ava was born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and Terri and her family are tireless advocates for CDH awareness and education. In fact, Terri was instrumental in having Iowa's Gov. Culver sign a CDH Awareness Proclamation. Terri has worked with an international CDH awarness organization but has now founded her own support group, called Allmiracles, for mothers whose children have problems at http://allmiracles.blogspot.com.
At birth Terri's third daughter Ava was given a 20-35% chance of survival. Last fall she reherniated and spent 47 days in intensive care before returning home. Currently she is facing another surgery to continue to repair her intestines.



Ava with the State of Iowa Proclamation


You'll find a story about Terri, Ava, and the rest of the family at:
http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/Ava-032309

You can find a story about "Ava's Awareness Walk" at this link:
http://www.thehawkeye.com/print/CDH_Day_011508

Ava's blog is at http://avaslifewithcdh.blogspot.com/

"Little Angels" can be heard here: http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=6023f7c91c100d0d5c457c&skin_id=1702&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=image

The Helmick family ready for Ava's Awareness Walk

In Terri's words:
"I have a passion for raising awareness for my 3rd daughter's birth defect called congenital diaphragmatic hernia. I am all about the simple things. I am a wife and a Mother. I love to savor each and every moment in life, for I know how fragile life really is."

"Our daughter Ava was born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. CDH is when (inside of the womb) the diaphragm does not form properly. The abdominal organs move up into the chest cavity, compromising the heart and lungs. Fifty percent of CDH babies die. Sometimes with proper diagnosis and treatment, the babies have a better chance at birth.

We held our First Annual, "Ava's Awareness Walk" on March 27, 2008. I was so touched at how many family and friends came out to walk for CDH Awareness. I held back tears as I spoke about Ava's friends that have died fighting this birth defect. I played the song, "Little Angels" that Tamra (my sister) and I created for all the CDH babies. After walking around the beautiful lake we had a balloon release. I did it to remember all the precious angels that had been taken, far too soon, from their Mothers arms. They will forever be in our hearts.
My goal is to educate and provide valuable knowledge and information about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. I want to let as many know of this deadly birth defect as possible and to share HOPE.

Miracles DO Happen!"
--Terri Helmick

Terri recording her song, "Little Angels" which is linked to Ava's blog


Queen Terri we are incredibly excited to welcome you to the royal family! We're all praying for Ava!

Queen Madi Honored in D.C.

Queen Madi, Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold, was recently honored in D.C. at the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. She's pictured here with one of the other Middle School honorees as well as with the Delaware High School honoree and Senator Kaufman, AND with former First Lady Laura Bush.
Meeting Laura Bush was one of the highlights of a busy weekend of sightseeing and awards ceremony! Another was hearing actor Jason Ritter speak!
Queen Madi, we salute you!!

Queen Samantha TAGged in Reading

We're proud of Queen Samantha Rose, Nat'l Miss Heart of America, for participating in reading classes for the talented and gifted. She's being tested for admission to the entire program. Way to go, Queen Samantha!!

Queen Madi's Johnson and Johnson video

We want to share a link to a Johnson and Johnson site where you'll find a video of Madi that will leave you so impressed! (Mom did a good job, too! :-)
We'll let Madi's mom, Wendy, tell it in her own words:

Hi All~
As some of you know, Madi had the great opportunity to work with Johnson & Johnson on a story they were doing for their annual report on the PING insulin delivery system that she uses to help control her diabetes. The interviewer, the photo crew and the film crew came to our house and followed Madi through a day of school and her Broadway Bound classes after school. The finished products (video) are now available on their website if you are interested in seeing them. When you go to the link, if you scroll over the small photo of Madi and Blizzard, it will show you a link to read the story from the annual report or watch the video. It was a great experience:) I hope you enjoy~
http://www.youtube.com/user/JNJhealth
Wendy

I want to point out that on my computer, I scrolled over a small photo of Madi that said Girl on the Go underneath and then I did click on see the video. The video you want is Girl on the Go. This also discusses Madi's volunteer work for The American Diabetes Association, her incredible fundraising, her award from American Girl. There is SO MUCH about Madi that we haven't mentioned here, yet. What an INCREDIBLE YOUNG LADY SHE IS!!!!!!!!!!

Queen Madi is honored by Levy Court

Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold Madi was honored at the Kent County Levy Courthouse for winning the Prudential Spirit of Community Award for Delaware. Also honored was Miss Delaware Galen Giaccone.

Looking for our next Nat'l Ms. Heart of the Home

The Nat'l Ms. Heart of the Home title is for the woman whose primary focus has been the home. Whatever your work status, do you invest a great deal of time in your home and family? Do you still find time to volunteer in the community, making it a better place for all families? We know it's hard to compete in traditional Ms. pageants if you have spent time as a stay-at-home wife and mother. Tell us how you have made contributions to your community while remaining primarily focused on your home life and you have an EXCELLENT chance of earning a national title.
The announcement is planned for Mother's Day, 2009.

Queen Madison Dodge's official photo

Here's Madi Dodge's beautiful official portrait as Coronet's Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold!
We're SOOO proud of this accomplished, beautiful, and caring young woman.
We wish her the best of luck as she goes to Washington, D.C. with her Prudential Spirit of Community project. She certainly deserved the state level award and we think she'd be a great choice for a National award.

Scroll down to earlier posts to learn more about Madi, to find some links about her awards, and to learn about our other Queens.

Other photos of Queen Madi

Before we post Queen Madi's official portrait we want to share some of her other accomplishments. Here's Madi in The Sound of Music, Madi as ADA's Eastern Shore Teen Ambassador, Madi after a talent show
( hear her at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hX9qcfkbpE ),
and Madi and her Mom enjoying another of her titles.

Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold's latest awards!

Madi has had a busy month. She won a talent show (that's her with the trophy!) and was crowned Teen Miss Delaware Valley 09!! You can hear her sing by following this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hX9qcfkbpE
Congratulations, Madi!!

Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold wins Prudential Award

We're so happy to announce that Madi Dodge, our Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold Supreme Queen, has been named one of two of Delaware's top two youth volunteers by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 14th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Find out more about her award by clicking on the following link:
http://www.allbusiness.com/society-social/social-welfare-disaster-emergency/11778653-1.html

CONGRATULATIONS, MADI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You deserve it for all you have done for diabetes awareness!

Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold, Madison Dodge of DE

We are so proud to announce Madison "Madi" Dodge as our new Nat'l Miss Heart of Gold Supreme Queen!! Madi exemplifies the titleholder with a true heart of gold.
Madi works tirelessly as an ambassador for the American Diabetes Association, to raise money for a cure. She was diagnosed with type one diabetes when she was 5. Madi has organized and implemented many fundraisers to raise money for her walk team, Madison's Prayer. Madi has been team captain of her team since she was 5. Madi not only holds annual events like her "Skate 4 a CURE" but she also makes and sells individually handcrafted journals that she has named "Journal magic". All proceeds from the sale of her journals goes to help support people with diabetes and to help find a cure.



Madi works hard in public advocacy for people with diabetes, meeting yearly with her congressmen and representatives to keep them abreast of the needs and complications of living with diabetes. Madi puts together and distributes bags that she delivers to people who are newly diagnosed. She sets up information booths at community events to share information about diabetes and she has spoken at many public events as well. Madi is determined to do all that she can to beat diabetes! Nothing gets in the way of achieving her goals!
However, this fall something nearly did. Madi was diagnosed with a relatively rare disease, Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis and Ulcerative duodenitis. To make a long story short, this disease of the white blood cells, eosinophils, has caused extensive damage to Madi's stomach and has robbed her of her ability to eat foods by mouth. For the last three months Madi has been tube fed an elemental formula to allow her body to heal. She will hopefully begin the long road back to eating soon. At this point she is healing, and we are hopeful that she will return to school soon. She has been on homebound instruction for three months. None of this has broken Madi's incredible spirit, and it has not gotten in the way of her goal to help cure diabetes. Although this "new" disease is not curable, and it is not related to her diabetes in any way, she is determined to fight it as well! Madi is blessed with a joyful, giving, spirit!

Two Queens battle ice storm

April, Nat'l Ms Heart of the home, and Samantha, Nat'l Miss Heart of America, have endured a week without power after the devastating KY ice storm. The Boy Scout Troop did a lot of volunteer clean up for the elderly after the storm.

Queen April's Holiday Volunteerism

During the Christmas holidays, Nat'l Ms Heart of the Home Supreme Queen, April, and her family cooked and served a Christmas meal to a Scout Troop, including homemade cheesecakes.
Her husband took the boys to volunteer and spend the night at a homeless shelter. Very moved by this experience, they are planning a summer cookout for the 150 women at the shelter.
Nat'l Miss Heart of America, Samantha, helped prepare a dinner and enjoyed The Nutcracker over the holidays!