Benjamin's Wish

You guys, this has been such an incredible day! One of Brennen's dear friends (one of the 'Friday Friends' I talked about HERE), was granted a wish through the Children's Wish Foundation! I've watched Benjamin grow up, and have spent so much time with him and his family, so it was an absolute honour to be there today when he received such a special gift.

Benjamin's mom, Lisa describes her son as follows:

"Benjamin is an incredible 11 year old little boy. He has gone through so much in his life, and he deserves every bit of happiness that can be brought his way. He was born 15 weeks early (at 25 weeks gestation) and spent over 6 months in the NICU, just trying to survive each day. He had a very difficult first few months of life, and came home on oxygen and monitors to help him get stronger. He's had many stays in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, numerous surgeries, and he's had too many "close calls". Despite all of this, Benjamin has the biggest and most genuine smile.

Benjamin is diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He has chronic lung disease, he wears a cochlear implant, he has vision loss (but sees well with glasses,) and he has a seizure disorder that is controlled well with medication. He is g-tube fed, and he is nonverbal but vocal when he wants something or is excited! He has the best brother and sister who see him as a regular kid who just needs some extra assistance with things. He enjoys music, doing Legos, and watching hockey, Wipeout, America's Funniest Videos, and anything else that makes him laugh. He is a very happy boy!"

 

Today, Benjamin was granted a wish by The Children's Wish Foundation! Lisa says, "We have chosen to get Benjamin a Hippocampe, which is a type of all-terrain wheelchair. It will allow us to take him on trails, in the snow, and on the sand - places that are pretty much impossible for him to go in his wheelchair."

Wedgwood Insurance Limited raised money for the Children's Wish Foundation, and presented a cheque to Benjamin's family for $10,000 - the average cost of a wish. When the staff at Wedgwood found out how much the Hippocampe actually costs after all the accessories are added on (about $15,000), they said they'd write another check for the additional amount! How incredible is that?!

Lisa added, "We are beyond thankful for their generosity. This will give us so much freedom to be able to take Benjamin places that he otherwise would not be able to go."

Anyone who has tried to push a wheelchair through the sand (or the snow more often here in Newfoundland) knows that it is nearly impossible. This greatly limits the activities that someone in a wheelchair would be able to participate in, and the locations that they would be able to explore.

A Hippocampe is an all-terrain wheelchair that enables everyone, of any age to enjoy outdoor activities to their full ability. Benjamin will now be able to explore sandy beaches, snowy trails, and off-road paths with his whole family, instead of having to either stay home, or take an easier route. 

The Hippocampe comes with all-terrain wheels, large beach wheels, and a ski attachment. 

 

Click HERE to see the story on CBC News

Benjamin, I can just imagine the fun you are going to have in your new all-terrain wheelchair! 

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!” 

- Dr. Seuss, 'Oh, The Places You'll Go!'

You can donate to the Children's Wish Foundation by going to http://www.childrenswish.ca/

Help grant the wish of a child living with a life threatening illness or life-limiting disability today!

Children's Wish: A Season of Giving

It's that time of year again. Everyone is busy writing their Christmas lists, frantically looking for the right gift for a loved one, and planning their busy schedules of holiday events. It's also the time of year when people start to think about how they can give back in some way, and with New Year’s resolutions on the horizon, people often see their charitable side coming out.

There are countless different ways you can create a positive impact in your community - from helping out at a homeless shelter, donating to a charity, or participating in a food drive. These are all ways that a small contribution of your time and effort will have a huge impact in the life of someone else! This holiday season, as you search for ways to help, as you find opportunities to teach your children about gratitude and giving, consider donating to the Children's Wish Foundation, to help grant a wish for a child who is so deserving.

Each year, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of three and 17 are diagnosed with a life threatening illness. The Children’s Wish Foundation is dedicated to granting an exceptional wish to each and every eligible child. Children's Wish is a national charitable organization with chapters in every province. Since it was founded in 1984, it has granted wishes to more than 22,000 Canadian children.

The magic of a Wish provides children and their families with an opportunity to share the joy of a special experience, and an escape from the day-to-day challenges of illness and medical complexities. Children's Wish relies entirely on the generosity of its donors and volunteers to grant children their wishes. Now that the Foundation has broadened their reach to include children with serious genetic and neurological diagnoses, this year the Children's Wish Foundation will be granting more wishes than ever before!

As the parent of a child with severe cerebral palsy, I can only imagine the positive impact that a Wish would have, not just on the child, but on the entire family! As a Wish Ambassador, I am thankful for the opportunity to see the value and the benefit of these wishes up close. I have met a number of amazing "Wish Kids" and have spent enough time with "Wish Families" to know that having their child's Wish granted is a life-changing experience.

The holidays are a magical time of year and the perfect opportunity to give something back, so why not bring the magic of a wish to a child who truly needs it! Donating to the Children's Wish Foundation is one small thing that you can do to create big impact for families of children with life-threatening illnesses and severe neurological conditions.

Be a part of the Children's Wish Foundation's meaningful work this year by donating today!  

Click HERE to donate and support the Wish-a-Thon.

"Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the body's white blood cells. Being told that your child has cancer can be a terrifying experience, and the stress of cancer treatment can be overwhelming for any family. Wish kids often choose to wait until their treatment is over and they are in remission before they go on their Wish trip - in these cases, the wish trip is an important milestone in the completion of a difficult journey through treatment. In other cases, time is of the essence, and kids can’t wait, and their rush wish has to be granted while they are still in treatment. Donate to Wish-a-Thon today to help grant a wish to a child with cancer."


"Cerebral palsy affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. It is caused by brain damage that can happen during the fetal stages of pregnancy or between the first 3-5 years of age. There is no cure, but treatment, therapy, special equipment, and, in some cases, surgery can help children with this disease. Modern science and advances in medicine have helped these children live longer and well into adulthood. But it can still make life extremely difficult for these children and their families. Donate to Wish-a-Thon today to help grant a wish to a child living with cerebral palsy."

*****

Another way you can donate this holiday season is through the RCMP Wish Tree Program!

The brave men and women of the RCMP have been lighting Wish Trees in their districts since 1991 in support of the Children's Wish Foundation. The RCMP Wish Tree Program started in the Trinity Conception District in 1991. This year, the goal is to raise $15,000 through the Wish Tree Program to grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses across Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Get in on the excitement! Join a tree-lighting ceremony in your community and help create joy for a special child this season.

Below are the dates and locations of this year's RCMP Wish Trees:

November 15 - Bonavista

November 28 - Bay Roberts

November 29 - Harbour Grace 

November 29 - Hopedale 

December 1 - Forteau

December 2 - Lewisporte 

December 9 - Mary's Harbour

A very big, heartfelt "Thank You" from the Children's Wish Foundation:

"It means the world to us to have the generous support of our donors - everyday  people who help us deliver the magical, most heartfelt wishes to our Wish Kids and we never want to take them for granted." - Edie Newton, Director - Newfoundland & Labrador chapter

The world is full of so much good. May we all continue to benefit from both giving and receiving!

Wishmaker Walk for Wishes

Wishmaker Walk for Wishes is the Children's Wish Foundation's annual signature event held in hundreds of communities across the country. Thousands of Canadians participate in a fun, family-oriented day with one goal in common: to raise money so that children living with a life threatening illness or life-limiting disability can be granted their most heartfelt wish. 

On October 18th, I joined several wish-families and many supportive community members in a Wish Walk in Conception Bay South. The walk started at the Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre and ended with a celebration at the Royal NL Yacht Club.

This particular Wish Walk was organized by Paula Bowen of Topsail. Paula's ten year old son Brandon was granted a wish in 2013, and since then Paula has been highly involved with the Children's Wish Foundation. She organized her first walk last year, and raised over $6000. An average wish will cost $10,000, so her goal this year was to raise $10,000 to be able to grant another child's wish!

Brandon entertaining the crowd after the Wish Walk

Brandon was born prematurely at just 27 weeks, weighing two pounds and four ounces. Within a few days of his birth, doctors noticed hemorrhaging on his brain, and as a result, Brandon was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He spent 102 days in the ICU, and has since endured a number of quite extensive surgeries.

Brandon's wish was to go to WWE WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans! The WWE is the largest professional wrestling promotion in the world, and it has long been a dream of Brandon's to see his favourite wrestlers in a match.

Paula says that Brandon's trip was the first time they were ever able to go away somewhere as a family that wasn't for medical reasons. Brandon and his parents spent five days in New Orleans watching wrestling matches at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where Brandon also got to meet over 30 of the wrestlers - his favourite being John Cena. The Bowens didn't know for sure if Cena was going to be there, but Brandon was hopeful!

Paula says, "When John Cena walked into the room, Brandon went nuts! One of the volunteers told us he had never seen a child's reaction like Brandon's." She says, "Cena did a bee-line right over to Brandon because Brandon was going crazy in his wheelchair! He was all dressed up in his John Cena gear!"

Watch this video of memories from Brandon's wish trip to WrestleMania!!

"We were the only wish family from Canada that got to go to this event, and the Children's Wish office here worked extremely hard to make this happen. We didn't know until a week before we got picked to go, so we had to prepare Brandon that he might have to go to another wrestling event. We were very, very lucky to get to go!!"

Brandon received a personalized plaque, and even traded wristbands with his idol, John Cena. He still wears the lime green wristband, that bears the words "hustle", "loyalty", and "respect".

Brandon says, "It feels awesome to wear something that belonged to him. I always wear it, pretty much. Every time I look at this, it means that I can never forget WrestleMania!"

Last year, Brandon wrote a poem called "Wishes in the Air". It highlights his positive attitude and his optimistic outlook on life. Brandon's wish was granted by the Children's Wish Foundation, and it had a profound impact on him. He has hopes and dreams for his future, like all kids his age.
As a parent of a child with cerebral palsy, I remember crying with the news of my son's diagnosis because I thought my dreams for him had been shattered, but that doesn't have to be the case. Brandon, I know that you will do big things, great things, because anything is possible. Dreams do come true and wishes are granted when people follow through with their passion to help.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Wishmaker Walk and for helping to create the magic of a wish for thousands of Canadian children and their families. There are 19 Wish Walks across the province of Newfoundland and Labrador this month. Find the one nearest you, and get involved! Help raise funds while meeting some of the most dedicated and inspiring people. You won't be disappointed!  http://wishmaker.ca

Nevaeh's Lemonade Stand

When life hands you lemons...

Nevaeh Denine is an incredible five year old girl and survivor of Neuroblastoma. I wrote about Nevaeh's journey with Cancer, HERE. After watching the Janeway Telethon last year, she told her Mom that she wanted to help other sick children in our province. When asked what she had in mind, her response was "I want to have the biggest lemonade stand EVER!" And so she did! Over $22,000 was raised last year, which went to assist five different sick children and their families!

photos above by Aamie Gillam

A year ago, Nevaeh took a break from her treatments and met with local musician and songwriter, Damian Follett to write a song about her Lemonade Stand. Once the lyrics and music were put together, she headed over to Rick Hollett's studio, 'Record Time Productions' and started laying down the tracks. Rick played on this song and also graciously produced it. Here is the song and a flashback of Nevaeh's first Lemonade Stand:

Nevaeh has been doing really well this past year, and just received some very exciting news: her recent tests have come back clear, and Nevaeh is Cancer-free!! YAY! I can't imagine anything greater!

Nevaeh wanted to give back to the community once again, and to raise money for families with children who have been diagnosed with Cancer. On Sunday, July 19th, Nevaeh hosted her second annual Lemonade Stand, which was a massive success! Andrew and Brennen and I went to show our support for such an inspiring little girl and her heartfelt cause.

Because the weather wasn't great (we have yet to see Summer here in Newfoundland), the event was moved into the Goulds Arena, and the crowds came in droves! There were carnival games, antique cars, face painting, break-dancing, zumba, live musical performances from The Celtic Fiddlers and The Masterless Men, and appearances by Mark Critch, Allan Hawco, and more! Oh.. and there was lemonade!

Nevaeh, congratulations on another successful fundraiser! You've got a wonderful team around you, and from the crowd there today, it looks like you have the support of the whole community. You are an incredible little girl, and an inspiration to so many. I saw a few tears there today when you performed your song on stage! Way to go, Nevaeh!! I look forward to posting the total amount raised later this evening! (Now rest! You deserve it!!)

*Update - As of 8:00pm this evening, the total raised with donations still coming in, is over $40,000!!!

Janeway Telethon 2015

This weekend is the 31st Annual Janeway Children's Miracle Network Telethon.

 Broadcasting on NTV

Saturday, June 6 @ 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and

Sunday, June 7 @ 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Live streaming on www.ntv.ca

More than just a hospital, the Janeway is a second home to many children and families from all over Newfoundland and Labrador. The Janeway Children’s Hospital has been a huge part of our lives. Through Brennen’s many surgeries and therapy appointments, check-ups and admissions, we have had more visits than we can count. We are extremely thankful for the high standard of care that Brennen has received, and continues to receive, at the Janeway. The staff have gone above and beyond to care for Brennen and our family as a whole. We can’t thank them enough.

We are fortunate to have Brennen home with us right now, but every day, there are children and families at the Janeway who are not so lucky. The money raised through the Janeway Telethon helps to provide the children of our province with the best care possible.

If you are a parent, you never know when you might require the services of the Janeway. You never know what lies ahead for you or your family. We treat the hospital almost like an insurance policy - we want to have it if we need it, but we hope we never have to use it. You never know when an accident might happen, or an unexpected diagnosis might be given. You don't know when you're going to get a phone call saying that the specialists want to see your child, or that they need to be admitted for tests. Only when the day comes that you need it, will your appreciation for the Janeway become a reality.

Our family donates to the Janeway several times throughout the year. Our group at Little Tulips Family Child Care participates in Jamarama, and in February we held a Daycare Dance-A-Thon and raised an incredible $650.00!!

We love to watch the Telethon as a family. We watch to see the familiar faces of people we know - the doctors and nurses, surgeons and therapists. We watch to see the touching stories of hope and healing, and the introductions to the Janeway "Miracle Kids" and "Champion Child". We watch to see our friends in the community volunteering their time in the phone banks, and we love to watch the numbers creep up on the total board.

This year, the Janeway Telethon has a new theme song, called 'Bounce Back', written and performed by local musicians The Swinging Belles and featuring The Once. 'Bounce Back' is a catchy, upbeat tune capturing the spirit of fun and celebrating the healing power of children. I love it!

Please donate to the Janeway this weekend. Your contributions have a profound effect on the level of health care excellence available right here in our province. Having a facility that focuses on children's health in our community is absolutely worth supporting.

Don't be fooled by the rocks that she's got. J-Lo has her head on straight when it comes to being a Mom and doing what is best for her kids. This year, she is encouraging us all to "Put your money where the miracles are", as the official spokesperson for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

"Children are one third of our population and all of our future."

To pledge your support, please contact 777-4502, or toll free at 1-855-777-4502. 

Visit www.janewayfoundation.nf.ca to make a donation or text JANEWAY to 45678 to donate $20.