That girl is an absolute HOOT... I call her my little toot cause that's what she is!
Her birthday is an amazing day that we will never forget just like her borthers' special days. But May 30th is also an important life changing date for our family. One year ago today our 8 day old baby girl underwent major surgery to remove a cyst from her liver and bile ducts. You can read about her diagnosis in this blog post here.
That day was one of the worst for us. That evening and during the night is one we want to forget. You can read about that here. We want to forget but we won't and we shouldn't. Besides the countless prayers sent up for Cora Love that night, there was also a God send that Daddo and I was blessed to be given.... The Ronald McDonald House Charities. This beautiful place was our 'home' for the 6 days we were in Dallas for her surgery and recovery. It is where we came the night before her surgery and where Daddo and Grammy were able to stay and have their meals. This house is HEAVEN ON EARTH. Families who have children receiving long-term critical care in a Dallas-area hospital can request to stay here, eat all their meals here, do their laundry, relax in the tv room, let their children play in the kids room, gameroom or on the playground and receive the kindness and compassion from the volunteers who work here..... all for a $15 a day 'donation.' I guess you could say it is operated by love alone.
You can check out much more about the Ronald McDonald House Charities at their website rmhdallas.org.
Our family experienced the love and compassion from this wonderful place when we most needed it. Countless other families also receive this same feeling when they stay here and are worried about their sick child. It takes so much off of you that you would otherwise have to worry about. Hotel expenses, daily meals, laundry. It is all taken care of. You also are surrounded by others who are going through the same situation at the same time. In our case, we met parents and grandparents of children who were much sicker than our Cora. Some who were receiving transplants, heart surgeries and cancer treatments. Even in our darkest time, we were compelled to pray for others whom we felt were in a worse situation.
There are several ways you can donate to the RMH which you can read about on their website. One way that is wonderful for a large group is through collecting aluminum can tabs. Beginning next school year, the West Rusk Elementary and Intermediate schools are doing just that. Receiving nothing in return, our children are going to learn compassion for others and what it means to help those who need it. This summer WR students and their families are going to fill up empty milk jugs with can tabs. When school starts in the Fall, I imagine we'll be bombarded by these gallon cartons filled to the top. RMH will send us a postage paid box to fill with the tabs and send back to them in Dallas. They receive money for the tabs to go toward expenses to operate the house in Dallas. We'll continue this collection and donation throughout the school year. Other WR students' families have already received care from staying at the House and unfortunately more of our students and their families will need the help in the future. This is my family's way to give back to the wonderful place who helped us so much during those 6 days. This is also a way for everyone to do their part to help keep this heavenly place operating.
So next time you finish off a coke and are about to toss it in the garbage, pop off that tab, place it in a container and send them up to WR Elementary or Intermediate. Any help can go a long way and my family is forever indebted to Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Hopefully your's never will be, but you can always help make sure that it remains available for families who will need it.
Cora Love one year ago today after her surgery. Daddo was able to go to the
RMH and shower and eat before our long night ahead.
Our little toot 12 months later. Topping the charts in size and
roughing up on her big brothers daily!
No comments:
Post a Comment