So what's new with AHC? Well, just this morning my mom and I headed down to Chicago for one of my doctor appointments and arranged it so that we would make our second Something To Hold On To delivery right before it. For our second delivery, I handed out Barbie dolls, checker games, stuffed animals and beanie babies (about 50 items in all) to the kids at Children's Memorial Hospital's Oncology Day Hospital. Most of the kids there have cancer or a blood disease and receive their treatments as outpatients during the day at the clinic. The awesome nurse Allison Parise helped set up the delivery with us, and we met with child life specialist Julie around 9:30 this morning. Once there, we headed up to the fourth floor and went to the Kids Fight Cancer playroom to hand out stuffed animals and toys to the kids in there. I simply said, "Would anybody like a toy or stuffed animal?" and the kids came running! We handed out plenty of items to these amazing kids...
There were the humorous comments...
- I asked one little girl if she wanted a Barbie and she responded with "No, I hate Barbies. I'm a tomboy."
- There was this one boy who couldn't decide between a stuffed penguin and a teddy bear and was hugging both intensely to try and pick out the best. "They're staring at me!" He said. "Those cute little beady eyes are looking at me... I CAN'T DECIDE!" He even held a dance contest between the two stuffed animals before deciding which of the two was lucky enough to be his companion.
- The same boy and his sister gave a great show for the rest of those in the waiting room when they graphically described the rats in their house, leaving out NONE of the gory details and descriptions for all of us listening.
And the heart-touching ones...
- "I'm going to give this beanie baby to my mom," one ill child told me. "She collects them!"
- "I'm going to pick out a teddy bear for my little sister," another said.
- At the end of the day, after my appointment, we were in the lobby when I saw one of the little girls I gave a polar bear stuffed animal to run up to the receptionist, bear in hand, and say to the lady, "Look what I got today!"
It was an amazing experience to be able to give something to these little heroes. I was so touched by these kids, many of them sick themselves, choosing to give up their prize for a sibling or a parent. It was a great experience for me to be able to see these kids and help them personally. Thank you to all of those of you who donated to make this project possible!!!
With a delivery means another shortage in donations... anyone with access to new stuffed animals that can help us by either donating some of them or giving us a reduced price-- new toys work as well-- is greatly appreciated! I'm also very interested in activity books, like crosswords or coloring books that we can give to the kids at CMH so that they aren't bored during the waits and long days.
Now that it's 2008, I'd like to share with you all Abby Horan Charities' accomplishments for the year. In 2008, AHC has...
- Raised over $8,500 for charitable outreaches within the community
- Packaged and delivered 475 hygiene kits to people in need around the world
- Delivered over 350 miscellaneous hygiene products to those in need
- Donated 70 new paperback books to low-income children in the community
- Raised over $5,500 through the carnival for pediatric cancer research
- Raised over $2,000 for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life
- Beaded and sold over 200 bracelets to benefit different charities
- Donated 50 stuffed animals and toys to Children's Memorial's Day Hospital
- Inspired countless members from the community to take action!
Thanks again to everybody! Happy 2008!
Love, Abby Horan
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