The Syliah Volmar Foundation 1st Community and Family Event
By Joyce Sylvester

    When a parent loses a child , needless to say it is a heart wrenching time for family members and close friends.  It is understandable that some parents and siblings will find it difficult to continue on in happiness due to such a painful loss.  This however, is not the case for the Volmar Family who lost their only daughter Syliah Volmar on November 27, 2003 —Thanksgiving Day, due to a rare heart disease in young children called, dilated cardiomyopathy.   At the early age of six Dr. and Mrs. Louis E. Volmar and their son Daniel Shakahn who was 10 years old at the time found a way to change a very sad time during the holidays into a positive one that would benefit the community by bringing them together to share medical knowledge for proper health; to feast and have fun with friends, parents and their children.
     A professionals in her own right, Mrs. Huguette Bastien-Volmar, RN who is the CEO, President and Founder of the Syliah Volmar Foundation along with her husband Dr. Louis E. Volmar and their now 12 year old son Daniel Shakhan successfully kicked off its’ First Annual Community and Family Event on Saturday, April 21, 2007.  Their mission is to create a family center where both parents and children can interact together in a social setting to build stronger bonds and foster friendships throughout the community. Today when it seems children and their parents are so divided the Volmar family wants to instill the importance of not only nurturing and cultivating our children but also provide them with creative activities that will inspire self worth and up lift their self esteem. This idea was inspired from the love and joyful  character of  their daughter Syliah that everyone still raves about in the short time of her life.  “I believe she is a gift from God” says Mrs. Volmar who goes on to say “she came into the world May 13th 1997 with a mission to bring love, happiness and friendship to everyone she encountered.”  An outpouring of letters and essays submitted by her friends and teachers once they learned of Syliah’s passing made the Volmar family realize something special in her memory should be done.
       Their daughter’s unforgettable popularity and warmth had left them in the care of a very large support group of family, friends, community, church members and even an extended family at Center for Hope, Friends of Karen & Camp Sunshine.   As quoted in the Queens Family Magazine “Syliah Volmar touched more lives than many do in an entire life time.”
     As a result of all the love and support shown from what Syliah had generated the Volmar Family felt it was their duty to be like their daughter and carry on her mission of love.  Thus, the great success of The Syliah Volmar’s Foundation’s first Community and Family Event was evidenced by supporters, friends and many families of over 200 in attendance.  The Mistress of Ceremonies for the afternoon was the lively Marie Carmel Houanehe, RN, MSN, who introduced the Reverend Pierre Ulrick Bastien to give the invocation, the many impressive speakers which included Dr. Therese Giglia, Section Head Pediatric Cardiology of Schneider Children’s Hospital, Mrs. Susan Thomas Director of Center for Hope, Dr. Noris Allen OB/GYN, The Assistant Principal of P.S. 176 Ms. Benita Draper and performances ranging from two soloist Emily Thomas and  Melissa Turner along with a children’s choirs headed by Yanick Albert and Echo Junior and a dynamic dance from  Syliah’s dance partner, her brother Shakahn Daniel Volmar and his friend Rene Harris.  The festivities also included giveaway prizes and the sale of the book that Dr. and Mrs. Volmar authored in memory of their daughter “Syliah Shares Her Love”. A wonderful story about a child’s determination to display her love and warmth with hugs for everyone she came in contact with.
     What a joyful event and an unforgettable love from a child that lives today and still brings people together.  This community event is truly a worth while organization to support.  For additional information, to support the foundation, volunteer or to purchase the book “Syliah Shares Her Love”, please email at Huguette@syliahvolmarfoundation.org or contact The Syliah Volmar foundation, at P.O. Box 110 118 Cambria Heights, NY 11411.