When asked for help with our Laptops for Love campaign, supporters at the Underwriting Party and Live Auction in Houston last night responded. Laptops for Love purchases new laptops for teens living in the hospital with cancer. These teens face isolation with days, weeks, and often months in the hospital. Friends are often not admitted into their hospital room due to the risk of infection and germs. Most take an extended leave from school, continuing their work through a homebound teacher.
For a young child, this isolation isn't as challenging as it is for teenagers. Take my daughter for example. A baby diagnosed with cancer at four months old doesn't notice that only grandparents and parents could visit her. She loved her Grandma and Nana and was thrilled to have them see her on an even more frequent basis. She didn't mind that her hair had all fallen out and only had whisps of hair left. She didn't get bored (or if she did, she couldn't tell me) from months at the hospital. But I can't imagine what that experience would have been like if she had been fourteen at diagnosis and not four months old.
Keeping laptops in stock is a challenge for us. They are in high demand! Laptops provided have helped seniors finish high school, give young teens an outlet with things like MySpace and Facebook to keep them occupied, and almost fifty teenagers found hope through this program in 2007. So, last night, I posed the question to a room full of generous supporters during our big party to prepare for the main event--"Who wants to make the difference for one teen tonight?"
Can you believe that we "sold" THIRTY laptops last night?? Thirty more teenagers will receive this gift of hope and love from Heroes for Children. I cannot even begin to tell you how exciting this is! We're well on our way to doubling our gifts to teens in 2007 to provide 100 laptops (we began with an inventory of 32 to purchase).
38 more laptops to sell and we can begin working on setting up a new goal.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Parents=Amazing Heroes
This evening, I had the unique experience to spend time with some of the incredible, amazing oncology parents that have been served by Heroes for Children. Honoring the parents and their own battles with childhood cancer, we hosted a Valentine's Dinner with catered dinner and FREE childcare providing by Mom's Best Friend.
Anyone who has children would agree that it is difficult to get out for a date. Between the cost of childcare and the cost of a nice dinner, it gets expensive. I'm one of the lucky ones that has the support of my mohter who lives ten minutes away. She watches my daughter almost every weekend for us. But what about those parents that don't have that kind of support? It's hard. But add the stress of having a child with cancer? A date is practically a word out of their vocabulary.
Twenty families joined us. Andie Hamilton Photography was set up to photograph each family (something several of them told me they had never had!). Every mother was presented with a rose. The children were settled into a different room with more than 13 certified nannies (volunteering their time for free for Heroes for Children). Dinner was delicious--herb chicken, risotto, vegetables, chocolate mousse cake. Each family left with a centerpiece, a goodie bag, and at least one raffle prize. Thanks to our volunteers from HFC Friends, our women's auxiliary group, all items were donated.
Larissa and I had the opportunity to enjoy a dinner with a sweet woman and hear more of her story. Her gorgeous daughter, who captured the hearts of all in the room tonight, has Neuroblastoma. In the past year, she has undergone five surgeries, months of chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant. She has maintained her smile, shining personality, and sparkling eyes. At only three, this sweet little girl has been through so much. And yet, there she was this evening with her beautiful smile, with her tubes in her nose and her central line hanging from her body.
Every parent there tonight had a story. We had two couples that had recently lost their children to cancer. We had a family who not only went through a child with cancer but a father undergoing a kidney transplant at one time. The child was in the children's hospital and the father in a different hospital in Fort Worth. Oh, and the mom is pregnant with their third child. Seriously? How do they go through all that? I left astounded by the strength of these parents and inspired by the unconditional love they have for their children.
Anyone who has children would agree that it is difficult to get out for a date. Between the cost of childcare and the cost of a nice dinner, it gets expensive. I'm one of the lucky ones that has the support of my mohter who lives ten minutes away. She watches my daughter almost every weekend for us. But what about those parents that don't have that kind of support? It's hard. But add the stress of having a child with cancer? A date is practically a word out of their vocabulary.
Twenty families joined us. Andie Hamilton Photography was set up to photograph each family (something several of them told me they had never had!). Every mother was presented with a rose. The children were settled into a different room with more than 13 certified nannies (volunteering their time for free for Heroes for Children). Dinner was delicious--herb chicken, risotto, vegetables, chocolate mousse cake. Each family left with a centerpiece, a goodie bag, and at least one raffle prize. Thanks to our volunteers from HFC Friends, our women's auxiliary group, all items were donated.
Larissa and I had the opportunity to enjoy a dinner with a sweet woman and hear more of her story. Her gorgeous daughter, who captured the hearts of all in the room tonight, has Neuroblastoma. In the past year, she has undergone five surgeries, months of chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant. She has maintained her smile, shining personality, and sparkling eyes. At only three, this sweet little girl has been through so much. And yet, there she was this evening with her beautiful smile, with her tubes in her nose and her central line hanging from her body.
Every parent there tonight had a story. We had two couples that had recently lost their children to cancer. We had a family who not only went through a child with cancer but a father undergoing a kidney transplant at one time. The child was in the children's hospital and the father in a different hospital in Fort Worth. Oh, and the mom is pregnant with their third child. Seriously? How do they go through all that? I left astounded by the strength of these parents and inspired by the unconditional love they have for their children.
Friday, February 8, 2008
HFC Friends Grant Milestone for a Prima Ballerina
Look at all of these amazing ballet items!!! We asked and HFC Friends delivered! Last week we received a request for 7 year old girl in Houston who wants to become a ballerina. Since she has a very supressed immune system she cannot take ballet lessons with other girls. A Houston ballet company graciously stepped in to offer her private lessons. They will even schedule the lessons around her chemo treatments.Heroes for Children stepped in to provide the soon to be Prima Ballerina with her very own ballerina wardrobe. Included her ballet package were leotards, tutus, tights, tap and ballet shoes, a dance bag, a photo album to capture the memories, and a little girly make-up so she can be glamorous for each lesson. Plus a few Hello Kitty items just because their her favorite. An HFC Friends Family even donated their dvd camcorder so the ballerina's parents can record the precious moments with thier child. We even were able to provide her two younger sisters with ballet outfits, so they can be just like their big sister!
Thanks so much HFC Friends for granting this request!
Monday, February 4, 2008
February Volunteer of the Month
Love is in the air! Can you believe it is February already? Heroes for Children's big Valentine's project for families is underway. We are hosting an evening for the parents on Sunday, February 17th. With a catered dinner, parents will enjoy an evening away together to relax and enjoy a nice meal. Babysitting services, provided by Mom's Best Friend, will be on-site to provide free childcare for the parents. With all the stresses of having a child battling cancer, we know that a Valentine's dinner may be the last on their list. But we also know that they need this time to keep up with their relationships, enjoy adult interaction, and connect together. Hopefully, it will be a memorable evening for these very deserving parents!
Assisting us with the project is this month's Volunteer of the Month, Christie Cahoon. Christie was recently introduced to our organization this past Fall. We immediately hit it off, connecting with a mutual understanding of what it is like to have a loved one battling this horrible disease. Christie's sister underwent not one, but two different grueling bone marrow transplants to beat her leukemia.
Since getting involved with Heroes for Children, Christie has jumped right in! She was a co-captain for a Holiday Heroes team, helping us shop and wrap for one family. She is one of our awesome volunteers for this new Valentine's Dinner for HFC Families. I'm proud to announce that she has also accepted the position of the 2008-2009 HFC Friends Women's Auxiliary President!!
Christie--thank you so much!!!
Name, Age, Occupation:
Christie Cahoon, 33, wife and mother
How did you get involved with HFC?
I read about the organization after moving to Dallas in 2005. My friend, Lauren Thomason, has been involved with HFC and invited me to attend the HFC Friends Coffee this past fall. I was so impressed by what I learned about HFC at the coffee and knew I needed to get involved!
Do you have any kids and/or pets?
My husband and I have three kids – Claire is 4 years old, John is 3 years old and Anne is 18 months. We also have one dog, a Vizsla named Boo Radley, and a Beta fish named Sammy. Boo is 10 years old, and Sammy has been with us for about 7 months.
From looking at you, no one would guess that…..
I practiced corporate securities law prior to having children.
Favorite place to eat:
Oh how I love to eat out!! My very favorite has to be Hibiscus. I also love Taverna and Oishii.
What’s on your book shelf?
I recently finished Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen. Right now I am reading Then We Came To The End: A Novel by Joshua Ferris. Next on my list is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky.
What’s in your iPod/CD changer?
My iPod is full of music I enjoy while running – a lot of Polyphonic Spree and also Bon Jovi, Wilco, U2, and Gwen Stefani. It is the only time that I am not listening to my children’s music!
Who’s your hero?
My sister, Lindy. She was diagnosed with leukemia in May of 1995 at the age of 17. She had two bone marrow transplants – the first in August of 1995 and the second in April of 1998. She is approaching the 10th anniversary of her second transplant and is now considered cured! The strength that she had throughout her entire illness and her positive attitude will always be an inspiration to me.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Send Your Valentine Some Love!
Please contact Jenny Scott at jscott@heroesforchildren.org for an order form. These cards are adorable! Loved ones are mailed the Valentine's card above. Share your love for HFC with your loved ones!Monday, January 14, 2008
Quick, Painless and so stinking cute!!!
For years, I have been taking my kiddos to Photography by Cupcake, and have some GREAT pictures of them. Karen Stevenson is "Cupkake" and she is oh so creative, and a joy to be around! I have some priceless pictures of Taylor she took before she got sick. She does a great day every few months called "Quick and Painless." You can drop by her home studio, anytime this Saturday, January 19th from 9-5, no appointment necessary, and get pictures for your kiddo's for as little as $20!!!! And these are STUDIO portraits!! Even better, this Quick and Painless, a proceed of all orders go to HEROES FOR CHILDREN
I will be there, with sweet Lilly in tow!! I can't wait to get her three month pictures taken! She is smiling all the time and sticking her tongue out! Sooo cute!!
The backdrop for the pictues will be white, and if you want there are some Valentines props as well! Her studio is located at 3305 Chaha Road in Rowlett. Easy to get to off of George Bush! For more details on this event and to see her work, visit her website at http://www.photographybycupcake.com/
Karen has also generously donated her time to take numerous pictures of children with cancer that Heroes for Children has provided financial assistance to. We use these photos in marketing materials and events for HFC, and provide a picture of the child to the families.
Hope to see you there!!!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Model Inspiration
I'm in Houston for meetings right now. Traveling and fundraising in another city can be quite the challenge at times. It's time away from my family, exhausting travel, and jammed packed days with meetings. On Sunday night, I looked at my suitcase preparing for my trip with a lot of guilt (leaving my family) and anticipation, and anxiety. I just knew I would be exhausted when I returned on Wednesday. Yes, I'm exhausted. However, I'm leaving tomorrow morning with so much excitement and inspiration from my two days here in Houston and the love I have for this great city.
I spent the morning with some amazing people at an amazing place. In preparation for our inpending Heroes and Handbags event in Houston, our chair Mary Lou Fernandez set up a photo shoot. The models? Patients of Texas Children's Cancer Center. The photographer? Very cool guy. The props? Oh so beautiful handbags! The end result? Pure magic. Cannot wait to share with you (of course, after I see them myself!).
The goal of these photos are to use them for our event, invitations for the event, website, and even for large press coverage in PaperCity. Elaine Turner Handbags has so very graciously joined us in our efforts (can I tell you how much I love her bags? Love. them.). Armed with more than 20 or 25 handbags to choose from, we began our work at Texas Children's to photograph some amazing children. Let me tell you about our models today....
Our first was Evan. He's two and a half with Rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder. He has completed more than seven months of chemotherapy with another three left on the horizon. Then starts his surgery process. He's bald. He loves monster trucks. And he isn't afraid to stick his head in a large green tote bag to see if he is missing anything. He's gorgeous. Oh, and his smile? Melted my heart every time.
Next came Vincent. Born with cancer, Vincent turned three months old today. I didn't find out exactly what the form of cancer he had. However, it was not hard to miss that he had major surgery recently, removing his left ear and leaving a portion of the side of his face concave. And he can only smile on the right side of his mouth as he has lost feeling on the right. Vincent is undergoing chemo at this time and will eventually have plastic surgery to reconstruct an ear for him when he is better. His photos included him INSIDE a blue and white handbag as well as nestled in his mother's arms with a handbag slung across her shoulder. So sweet and beautiful.
A social worker poked her head in and asked if we would be interested in any teens for the photo session. Fully ready to photograph a young lady, we waited for our next model. And in HE walked. Humberto, an eighteen year old cancer SURVIVOR ready to finish his senior year of high school, was in the clinic for a check up (after over a year and a half of Lymphoma treatment). And he wasn't afraid to have his picture taken with some handbags. We loaded him up with four or five on each arm and let him hold them up muscle man style. It was so fun! What a good sport he was.
While waiting to see who else would be coming in to the clinic and feeling well enough to be photographed (sadly, one of our scheduled models received some bad news and left before the shoot), we decided to pull in some of our social workers. All of them had come to visit once they found out we were camped up at the clinic for the photo session. In between camera flashes, we had visited about recent patients HFC has helped and the services we provide. My heart swelled with pride every time they so sweetly thanked me and all of Heroes for Children for our work for their families. Four beautiful women that I adore, admire, and deeply respect very reluctantly agreed to have their pictures taken with the handbags. Brett, our photographer, got them all grouped together with coordinating handbags and a little sassy attitude. I stood there watching them giggle as they were being photographed with a huge grin on my face. I love the social workers we work with. They are truly some of my greatest heroes.
Heroes are all around the hospitals we work with. Today, I got to meet another hero for oncology patients. Dr. Dryer has been with the Cancer Center at Texas Childrens since her days as an intern. She is well respected, energectic, and kind. And boy does she ever look great with a lab coat, stethoscope, and fabulous handbags! Dr. Dryer was so sweet to let us photograph her today! With all she has to do with her position at the hospital, she took the time to meet with me and learn about Heroes for Children (the social workers were bragging about HFC right before we met) and even act as a model. And my biggest connection with her? She is apart of the leukemia research team studying infant leukemia. Yeah, we bonded. Definitely a big hero.
Now it was time to photograph a girl! Denise was up next. At six years old, Denise took great pride in being a big sister. She told us all about her younger sister and her role as the big sis. She was the perfect little model with a gentle expression and sweet smile. I could have just eaten her up.
Then it was time to wait. Layla was coming, but she was on her way. Just a little late. Let me tell you, Layla was worth the wait. Just shy of two, she is a precious child. With nothing but whisps of hair left, Layla was one of the most beautiful children. At first, she was scared with our set up. There were many people in the room and she thought she was going to be examined or poked. She cried. But Brett worked his magic and Layla's mom stuck by her side. The two photographed together. Soon, we started seeing smiles behind the pacifier. She was a perfect model!
We ended the day with a visit to see Nathaniel in his hospital room, the young man that Christi worked with in December for our Heroes Milestones event. Nathaniel is not doing well, but his strength is keeping him here with his family. His mother was sweet and thanked us again for Nathaniel's party. He was fairly out of it, opening his eyes only on occassion, or giving quick responses. When we asked him if he liked the fireworks, he weakly gave us a big thumbs up.
And with that, Mary Lou, Christi, and I bid Nathaniel and his mom goodbye. The three of us cried to the elevator and hugged.
What an inspiring day. What amazing heroes.
I spent the morning with some amazing people at an amazing place. In preparation for our inpending Heroes and Handbags event in Houston, our chair Mary Lou Fernandez set up a photo shoot. The models? Patients of Texas Children's Cancer Center. The photographer? Very cool guy. The props? Oh so beautiful handbags! The end result? Pure magic. Cannot wait to share with you (of course, after I see them myself!).
The goal of these photos are to use them for our event, invitations for the event, website, and even for large press coverage in PaperCity. Elaine Turner Handbags has so very graciously joined us in our efforts (can I tell you how much I love her bags? Love. them.). Armed with more than 20 or 25 handbags to choose from, we began our work at Texas Children's to photograph some amazing children. Let me tell you about our models today....
Our first was Evan. He's two and a half with Rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder. He has completed more than seven months of chemotherapy with another three left on the horizon. Then starts his surgery process. He's bald. He loves monster trucks. And he isn't afraid to stick his head in a large green tote bag to see if he is missing anything. He's gorgeous. Oh, and his smile? Melted my heart every time.
Next came Vincent. Born with cancer, Vincent turned three months old today. I didn't find out exactly what the form of cancer he had. However, it was not hard to miss that he had major surgery recently, removing his left ear and leaving a portion of the side of his face concave. And he can only smile on the right side of his mouth as he has lost feeling on the right. Vincent is undergoing chemo at this time and will eventually have plastic surgery to reconstruct an ear for him when he is better. His photos included him INSIDE a blue and white handbag as well as nestled in his mother's arms with a handbag slung across her shoulder. So sweet and beautiful.
A social worker poked her head in and asked if we would be interested in any teens for the photo session. Fully ready to photograph a young lady, we waited for our next model. And in HE walked. Humberto, an eighteen year old cancer SURVIVOR ready to finish his senior year of high school, was in the clinic for a check up (after over a year and a half of Lymphoma treatment). And he wasn't afraid to have his picture taken with some handbags. We loaded him up with four or five on each arm and let him hold them up muscle man style. It was so fun! What a good sport he was.
While waiting to see who else would be coming in to the clinic and feeling well enough to be photographed (sadly, one of our scheduled models received some bad news and left before the shoot), we decided to pull in some of our social workers. All of them had come to visit once they found out we were camped up at the clinic for the photo session. In between camera flashes, we had visited about recent patients HFC has helped and the services we provide. My heart swelled with pride every time they so sweetly thanked me and all of Heroes for Children for our work for their families. Four beautiful women that I adore, admire, and deeply respect very reluctantly agreed to have their pictures taken with the handbags. Brett, our photographer, got them all grouped together with coordinating handbags and a little sassy attitude. I stood there watching them giggle as they were being photographed with a huge grin on my face. I love the social workers we work with. They are truly some of my greatest heroes.
Heroes are all around the hospitals we work with. Today, I got to meet another hero for oncology patients. Dr. Dryer has been with the Cancer Center at Texas Childrens since her days as an intern. She is well respected, energectic, and kind. And boy does she ever look great with a lab coat, stethoscope, and fabulous handbags! Dr. Dryer was so sweet to let us photograph her today! With all she has to do with her position at the hospital, she took the time to meet with me and learn about Heroes for Children (the social workers were bragging about HFC right before we met) and even act as a model. And my biggest connection with her? She is apart of the leukemia research team studying infant leukemia. Yeah, we bonded. Definitely a big hero.
Now it was time to photograph a girl! Denise was up next. At six years old, Denise took great pride in being a big sister. She told us all about her younger sister and her role as the big sis. She was the perfect little model with a gentle expression and sweet smile. I could have just eaten her up.
Then it was time to wait. Layla was coming, but she was on her way. Just a little late. Let me tell you, Layla was worth the wait. Just shy of two, she is a precious child. With nothing but whisps of hair left, Layla was one of the most beautiful children. At first, she was scared with our set up. There were many people in the room and she thought she was going to be examined or poked. She cried. But Brett worked his magic and Layla's mom stuck by her side. The two photographed together. Soon, we started seeing smiles behind the pacifier. She was a perfect model!
We ended the day with a visit to see Nathaniel in his hospital room, the young man that Christi worked with in December for our Heroes Milestones event. Nathaniel is not doing well, but his strength is keeping him here with his family. His mother was sweet and thanked us again for Nathaniel's party. He was fairly out of it, opening his eyes only on occassion, or giving quick responses. When we asked him if he liked the fireworks, he weakly gave us a big thumbs up.
And with that, Mary Lou, Christi, and I bid Nathaniel and his mom goodbye. The three of us cried to the elevator and hugged.
What an inspiring day. What amazing heroes.
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