Our first River of Hope Drive was in 2006. We had 500 gifts, blankets, stuffed animals, etc. donated for the UW Children's Hospital in Madison. We hand delivered a book, blanket, stuffed animal, and toy to every child in the hospital. Grandpa and Grandma Konen and Wiese, Godfather Terry and Auntie Kristy, Chad, Renee, Adie, Isabella, and Gage, Shannon all helped us deliver gifts. It was very difficult coming back to the hospital after losing Riviera but it made our first Christmas without her a little more bearable. We got to visit with Andrea, Riviera's social worker, Dr. Dean, Riviera's oncologist, Dr. Iskandar, Riviera's neurosurgeon, as well as the wonderful nurses and staff at UW Children's Hospital. Our friends, family, coworkers, and community members really embraced the River of Hope Drive.