“I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.”
― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
Since I signed up a few weeks ago to be a Shavee for St. Baldricks, I have thought more and more of what St Baldricks stands for each and every day. With each passing day, the joy of participating in such a great cause increases (and far more that I honestly expected). If you take the time to read a few stories and watch a few videos, I believe you two will experience that joy by making a contribution.
My Honored Kids are all named Jared – which is my son’s name. My Jared was born with a birth defect in his skull bone structure and had to have skull surgery at 3 months old, 11 months old and then 18 months old. It usually takes one surgery to fix the problem, which fortunately for us was very, very treatable even if it took 3 surgeries to get there. However, my Jared was left with a very bumpy skull and a scar from ear to ear from where the incision had to be made. Over the years, Jared has happily watched friends participate and we have donated money to Shavees. This year, even though I told my Jared that no one has a perfect head when I was talking to him one morning about participating myself, he is not ready to shave his head. This year, though, he said I could do it for him.
It is now about 10 years since his last surgery – but I will NEVER forget the feeling I had and can still perfectly picture my Jared being carted away knowing that there was a risk that when the operating room doors closed behind him, I might never see my boy again alive. Fortunately, my Jared sits just a few feet away from me right now asleep on the couch as I write this.
Sadly, not all my “Jared Honored Kids” are here with us today. No child should have to have surgery on Christmas Eve, and start Chemo on Christmas day – but that is what Jared L. had to endure. Jared L. loved water parks … just like my Jared loves water parks. No child should have to spend the days of first grade and second grade with a chest catheter, monthly spinal taps and daily oral chemo and “those crazy five days of steroids each month” – but that is what Jared F. had to endure. Jared F. was a proud fisherman … just like my Jared. Both Jared L. and Jared F. are now Angels and the gift of their courageous stories live on. Other of my “Jared Honored Kids” are either in remission, another in treatment, or even cured and their courageous fight and stories continue. My heart goes out to all of my “Jared Honored Kids,” their families and other loved ones and if any of you read this – please know that you inspire me.
So I am having my head shaved March 17th as a show of solidarity with all those wonderful and brave kids fighting cancer, with special thought to my “Jared Honored Kids.”
And this is where you come in: make a donation of whatever size you can – every dollar makes a difference in the search for finding cures for what causes unfathomable misery for these children. By asking for your support, I'm really asking you to support these kids who show bravery most of us will never have to demonstrate.
And dig deeper, as I did, to check out the grant page:
http://www.stbaldricks.org/grants
You will see that the research type and disease type is eye-opening (there are over a dozen types of childhood cancer and countless subtypes, each requiring specific research to develop the best treatment for every child, but less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget is directed to childhood cancer research). St. Baldricks, a volunteer-driven charity, funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U. S. government … but the funding gap remains (http://www.stbaldricks.org/filling-the-funding-gap).
So please click "Make a donation" to give online, or donate by phone or mail. You will not regret it and may even feel blessed, as I am, by participating in your own way for all the Jareds and other child heroes out there.
