Reporter staff

Islander kindergartener Liam Owens had a special fifth birthday party at the Mercer Island Beach Club last month. Owens gave up the opportunity for birthday presents and instead asked for donations for Karl Bielser, a 13-year-old boy from Arlington, Wash., who recently had a heart transplant. The Bielsers have been long-time family friends of the Owens family. Owens wanted to “help Karl’s heart to feel better.”

Many friends and family attended Owens’ “Gift of Giving Party” that brought in $800 for Karl. Owens was so excited about the donations that he instantly put them in a special wallet and wanted to know when he could go see Bielser.

Bielser was diagnosed with an enlarged heart a year ago. He was having shortness of breath and looked pale during his basketball season in February 2006. Bielser’s parents, John and Julie Bielser, were stunned by the diagnosis. Bielser needed a new heart. He had a rare type of restrictive cardiomyopathy which wouldn’t allow his heart to relax enough to adequately pump.

By May, he was on the waiting list for a donor heart. After 10 long months of weekly trips to the hospital and close monitoring, the Bielsers receive the call that there was a heart available.

The Bielser family is grateful for all their family, friends and community outreach. Insurance will cover about half of the $500,000 surgery. Bielser will need anti-rejection medications for the rest of his life. So far, friends and family have raised approximately $75,000.

If anyone is interested in donating to the Karl Bielser Fund, please send donations to U.S. Bank/Karl Bielser/Benefit at any U.S. Bank.