4/19/10 - HopeKids

I have a story to tell you. I just learned it tonight, shame on me for not knowing this story from the beginning of our association with this wonderful organization, HopeKids. In 2008, right before Brinley was diagnosed, there was a family who moved here to Utah. They left Chandler, Arizona, the place they were comfortable, their home, their parents. Not because they have family here, not because they were offered a job with $$ they couldn't resist. They moved here to bring hope to children with life-threatening illnesses. They moved here to open a chapter of HopeKids in Utah. We have been a HopeKids family for quite a few months now, and we absolutely LOVE them. Here is what makes them different. This couple, the Oldhams, take the time to get to know each and every HopeKids family. They visit them at the hospital, they worry about them, they pray for them, I'm certain by name. They have so many events, constantly giving us something fun and free to do. Movies, parties, craft nights, etc. Don't they sound great? Well, there's more. They lost a daughter to cancer 5 years ago. They know the battle we are in. They watched their daughter fight it until it took her life.

I can only imagine the grief that comes with losing a child. I am certain they have seen more than enough from the beast cancer. Yet here they are, submerging themselves in the world of cancer and other life threatening illnesses to help kids who are still in the battle. They took their pain and they turned it to help people. They have done so much good to help so many people, and they CARE. If that isn't inspirational, I don't know what is.

Since they opened this chapter, they have grown to over 200 families. They are getting new families almost daily, which is wonderful. The growth, however, is difficult to keep up with financially. They are doing a fundraising dinner and auction on May 22nd to help raise these much needed finances. If you would like to participate, it is $50/plate. If you know of a company who would like to sponsor a whole table, there are options for that as well. I can't begin to tell you the good that they do, your money would be bringing those amazing smiles to kids with life-threatening illnesses, believe me, I have seen them on my Brinley. (The other kids in the family too!!) So I feel like since I am in there and experiencing it first hand, I am the perfect person to tell you how wonderful they are and how much we need them to stick around!! If you'd like to participate go to www.hopekids.org and go to the Faces of Hope link on the right sidebar. If you aren't able, but know someone who is, please spread the word. It's all about the kids.

UPDATE ON BRINLEY:

This has been a very strange month for Brinley. She bursts into tears constantly, hurts often, stomach, knees, back. She's tired and wants to lay down or be rocked. It's like steroid behavior, without the steroids. Then every once in a while, she'll perk up and get a couple hours of play time. If someone comes to visit, or her and Jade find something fun to play. The weather has been so nice and Brinley loves to swing, so she has spent some time outside. Just when I think she must be feeling better, she starts feeling bad again. She wanted to go to church so bad Sunday, but I knew she was not feeling good. She just laid on the floor before church and cried because she didn't want to walk anymore, but she wanted to go to church. We let her go and I peeked in on her in primary and she was on her teacher's lap getting a cuddle. She just looked so tired, but it was very sweet, she loves her primary teachers. I was glad we let her go.

We go in on Thursday for chemo and start a steroid pulse, even though it feels like we are already dealing with that. I just feel so bad for her and I don't know what is wrong. Hopefully it will pass. Thanks for checking in, I know all of your lives are busy. Thanks for caring about Brinley and our family.