Skip to main content

Wishful Thinking

Putting Thoughts Into (60 Second) Action               

Just Add Kids welcomes Mollie Bartelt, a Caledonia mom, as JAK's guest blogger

Do you want to make a difference in your life this summer? Or make a difference for a child who has a life threatening illness? Or win $1000 in a fun challenge?

Game on!

My story began six months ago, when my happy, healthy nine year old daughter came in from outside playing in the snow feeling dizzy. We became alarmed when she couldn’t stand up after resting a bit...her legs were wobbly and criss-crossing and she appeared to have no balance. A few short hours later in the emergency room, the situation looked worse as she was starting to slur her speech and not even be able to get words out correctly... and she couldn’t get her hands to work to put a snack in her mouth. Read more...

The hospital ER staff then sent us up to Children’s Hospital where Hannah stayed for nearly a week, undergoing tests and having therapy. While all the tests were negative, she continued to be unable to walk or stand unsupported and had trouble speaking. Hannah was finally diagnosed with Cerebellitis . . . a rare condition where a child’s immune system fights off a virus (i.e. cold, etc.) but then keeps fighting after the virus is gone and causes brain swelling. Fortunately, this is a temporary condition, but no one could tell us how long it would take for Hannah to talk and walk properly again.

While Hannah was on the Neurological unit at Children’s, we saw many children who were in much more severe situations. A child died while we were there. As a mother and a Creative Memories consultant, I knew that I wanted to give something to help these children who were suffering and their families who need something happy to get them through the tough times.

My fellow team of Creative Memories consultants and I have organized Minute to Wish It on June 26 at the Racine Family YMCA . . . a family fundraiser where families will compete in a fast paced series of challenges where winners will proceed to the next challenge. The final team left will have the opportunity to win up to $1000 in the Final Round of Minute to Wish It challenges.

Would you please consider giving back some of the blessings you have received by getting your family and friends together to be a team for this fun day? More details can be found on www.MinutetoWishIt.info. If you cannot, forward this email on to others who might be interested!

If you would like to contribute to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, please use this link: https://secure.wish.org/ourfriends/029-000/minutetowishit.htm

As for my daughter, she came home with a pediatric walker, needed stand by assist for everything from eating to going to the bathroom . . . but her spirit and attitude remained wonderful. It took her six weeks to completely recover and now she is back out on the soccer field full force.

Making a difference in the lives of children in need of a wish . . . will make a difference in your life this summer . . . I promise you!

*Creative Memories formed an alliance with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help grant the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions while also providing the tools needed to remember the past, cherish the present and be inspired with hope for the future.

Comments

  1. Glad to hear your daughter is fine, and some good has come out of your situation, this fundraiser. It's crazy how life can sometimes be turned around in a moment. Could you give us more info about forming a team. How many people? Adults, kids, or both? What time is it at,and where in the YMCA do we go? Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. [...] Chat Talk Back Hope on Wishful ThinkingJust Add Kids JAK Ch… on Rule of ThumbHope on Rule of ThumbRule of Thumb … [...]

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Hope....just come down to the Racine Y tomorrow at 1pm! Enter in the south side doors. Here is the link to website for more info: http://www.MinutetoWishIt.info BTW, this post just showed up...hmmm.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AWESOME Dad

Well, most are! I know your kid's daddy might not be tops in your book, yet, in the eyes of your child, he probably is. I am so grateful that when my husband and I mutually took the risk to vow to spend our lives together, then had/have children, (while not always perfect) he ended up being quite the awesome dad. Assist your child in sharing his/her celebration of dad. (Um, I am sure you know, Father's Day is next Sunday, June 17th).  Here's a great way to do that, pocket $100 gift card for your kiddo, and knock out that Father's Day gift!  Here's how... Read More... For the third year in a row, Just Add Kids has partnered with Educators Credit Union  to bring you, your kids and their daddy a fun contest in celebration of Father’s Day.  This year, RelyLocal Racine is also partnering with JAK and providing a plethora of gift cards perfect for dad. So, how to participate? Kids color a portrait of their dad, grandaddy, or other fatherly figure (portrait frame and e

June is the New Spring

April Wrap Up: Wrapped in Love                           In recognition of April being Autism Awareness month, Just Add Kids welcomes Colleen Nagle, a Burlington mom, as JAK's guest blogger. Autism is easy to misunderstand, misinterpret and mislead.  My son is the master of disguise and the best way to understand our kids is to assume nothing.  That is, assume only that they are kids, children, teens, silly, loving, intelligent and, well, simply put, no different than any other kid. Everything I have been told about Autism is wrong. Everything I know about Autism I have learned from my son.  My son with Autism.  He loves me just like his typical siblings love me, he cries when he misses me and he smiles when we are together again. Read more... He cannot speak.  He has never been able to express his favorite color or cartoon or game.  My heart longs to know him, to know the little everyday things: to know that he has favorites; to know that he likes the food I serve him; to know if