Kaiden's Wish

On Saturday, Andrew and I took our two boys to the 7th annual Terra Nova Motors TruXtravaGanza!

The TruXtravaGanza is a fundraiser that Terra Nova Motors hosts every year to raise money for the Children's Wish Foundation. The event features street trucks, classic trucks, off road trucks and ATVs navigating a full size obstacle course and mud pit. Let's call it what it is - grown men playing with their toys in the dirt! It's awesome, and it's all for a great cause!

This year's event raised money to go towards granting the most heartfelt Wish of a very special little boy named Kaiden.

In January of 2016, at just 3 years old, Kaiden was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma - a type of childhood cancer that starts in immature or developing nerve cells.

Kaiden's mom, Danielle says, "We were two months trying to figure out why his legs were hurting. He was in so much pain he could hardly walk. He was misdiagnosed with juvenile arthritis. Kaiden had six rounds of chemotherapy. He spent his 4th birthday having stem cells harvested at the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. He had surgery to insert a G-tube into his stomach to allow us to provide him with the nutrition he needed, as he had no appetite and he was nauseous from the treatments. Kaiden had surgery to remove one of his adrenal glands - the primary area of disease. Kaiden went to Sick Kids hospital in Toronto again, where he received high dose chemo before he had a stem cell transplant. We were there about a month before we were able to come home. After that, we returned to the Janeway for 12 radiation treatments on his leg and abdomen, where he had to be put to sleep each day for those. We finished treatment off with 6 rounds of immunotherapy."

The good news is that Kaiden is now in remission! His recent CT scan and bone marrow tests were all clear, and his echocardiogram and EKG showed normal heart function! Kaiden will be monitored closely, but he can now resume his life as a healthy and happy little boy!

At the TruXtravaGanza on Saturday, Terra Nova Motors presented Kaiden with his Wish package that included tickets for the Disney Pop Century Resort and a Disney Dream Cruise! He and his family are leaving for Florida next week! So exciting! Have a wonderful time, you guys!!

We had a great day at the TruXtravaGanza, watching some insane drivers tear it up in the mud, getting stuck in the pits and attempting to climb over massive tires and other obstacles. It was impressive, I have to admit. I didn't think I was, but it turns out I'm a fan of truck shows!

This little one loved all of the noise and excitement! 

Here are some action shots taken by Matthew Myler. Check out more of his photos from the TruXtravaGanza HERE.

Thank you to Terra Nova Motors for your incredible support of the Children's Wish Foundation!

If your workplace would like to know how you can grant a wish through the #HeroesChallengeNL, call Dave at 709-739-9474 or see their website for more details at www.childrenswish.ca/hero

Go Fly a Kite!

On Sunday, Andrew and Brennen and I headed in to Bowring Park for the 4th Annual PAL Kite Festival!

The staff of Provincial Airlines invited the public to celebrate the wonder of flight with a fun-filled day of events including a kite flying contest, a kite decorating station, a BBQ hosted by Red Oak Catering, face painting, live entertainment, and lots more!

I texted Andrew on Friday and said, "I have plans for us for Sunday. Two words: Kite. Festival." He wrote back with, "By 'us', I hope you don't mean Brennen, because the very quality that creates a successful kite festival ruins his life. haha!"

He was sort of joking, but of course, he was right. Brennen hates the wind. I have written about this before (HERE) - about how we constantly have to change our plans because Brennen is not happy being out in the wind, how we can't just hang out in the park, or go to outdoor events like most people. Well, I was determined to attend the kite festival - for us to attend the kite festival, as a family - and so we did.

And it was AWESOME!

I haven't flown a kite in.. I don't know.. ever! We don't even own a kite, but thankfully there were some available to purchase at the park, and all proceeds from kite sales (and any other donations) went to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter!

We are so happy to support the Children's Wish Foundation, and the incredible work that they do for so many deserving families. Recently, Children's Wish has broadened the range of eligible children to whom they grant wishes to include children with life-threatening illnesses and those with serious genetic and neurological diagnoses. By granting heartfelt wishes and creating unique and meaningful experiences, the Children's Wish Foundation greatly enhances the quality of life for these courageous children and their families.

It was such a fun day! Juno Award winning artists, The Swinging Belles performed their fun and upbeat swing music for the kids, and had everyone up dancing!

I just loved seeing all of the different kites up in the air, and how much enjoyment the little ones got out of watching them twist and twirl and then nose-dive back down to the ground. It was also surprising to me that so many 'grown-ups' are really into it!! We have some serious kite-flyers in this town! There were some pretty impressive stunt kites, and some that were on strings so long they went up so high you could barely see them. It was really cool, I have to say.

We are desperately clinging to these last few days of Summer. The long evenings, and perfectly warm temperatures. Brennen has been enjoying outings and sleepovers and lots of time spent with all of his favourite people. He has been so happy, so relaxed, and I just know that when school starts, we will be back to a tighter schedule with more demands placed on all of us. Not that that's all bad, but I do enjoy the freedom of not having the days already planned out for us. I'm sure that Brennen will be excited to see his teachers and his classmates. Brennen loves school. I would just like to hang on to Summer for a little bit longer. It feels like when Fall arrives, we will be trapped indoors once again, hiding from another long and cold Winter.

But that's it. Seasons change. Time goes by so fast, and I have come to terms with the fact that no matter how much I may beg and will it to stop, it won't. We can't slow it down, but we can hold on and enjoy the ride! Sometimes you need to just get out there. Take every opportunity to make moments. Make memories. Go fly a kite!

-Julie

A Princess Tea Party with Heroes

"Sometimes, real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles."

This weekend, The Children's Wish Foundation hosted a Princess Tea Party.. with Heroes! Children were invited to dress up as a princess or superhero and join in a wonderful afternoon at an enchanted castle with some of their favorite Disney Princesses and Comic Superheroes.

It was truly a grand affair for both boys and girls. There were fun structured activities for the kids, free massages for parents, an awesome stage show, and lots of surprises! 

The Tea Room was decorated in a beautiful fairy princess style that every little girl dreams of. The event organizers concentrated on every detail to make the afternoon perfect for the children and parents in attendance, as well as for the special little "Wish Princesses" and "Wish Superheroes", whose most heartfelt wish will be funded by the event. 

All children love to dress up and play make-believe. A witch, a pirate, a police officer or a race car driver - children's imaginations can transform them into whatever they want to be. For many of the children at this magical event, dressing up as a princess or superhero was an escape from their everyday lives, which can be full of medical appointments and hospital visits. Pretending to be a comic book character is a fun way to escape the real world for the afternoon, and let their fantasies and imaginations take flight!

  
When we think of superheroes, we think of people who are stronger than normal, and that's really what these children are. They are fighters. They are extraordinary kids who are living with an illness or disability, and if you think of what some of these children have overcome and survived, they must have superhero powers. These children represent hope and courage, strength and determination.

Wish Princess Eva is 5 years old and has stage 4 neuroblastoma. 

She went on a Disney Cruise for her Wish in November of last year!

We decorated cookies and enjoyed a lovely tea party, with tea provided by Steeped Tea.

Steeped Tea is not just any kind of tea! They are all naturally flavoured and free of GMOs, chemicals, and artificial flavours. The fruit teas (made with real ingredients, no added sugar and caffeine free) are great for everyone, including kids! 

It was a magical occasion that was visually stunning, whimsical and memorable for all who attended. It was wonderful to spend the day with little Princesses and Superheroes, who's biggest and best super powers might just be the way they inspire and motivate others. A dear friend said to me yesterday, "Love the awesome costume, Brennen! I say costume, but it's more of a uniform. Dude's a superhero everyday!" I couldn't agree more. Brennen is my hero. These children are all heroes. 

As Batman once said, "You only have your thoughts and dreams ahead of you. You are someone. You mean something."

All proceeds from this event will go towards granting a wish for a child with a life threatening illness or disability in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Princess characters were provided by Dream Princess Parties Newfoundland.

Thanks to Alick Tsui for these beautiful photos!