I'm Wishing

Back in July Faye's doctors and social worker referred her to the local Make A Wish organization.  I am sure most of you have heard that the Make a Wish organization is a non profit that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.  It is a wonderful organization that provides some joy strength and hope to these poor kiddos that have to go through such terrible things.  

Three weeks ago we received a phone call from two local volunteers saying they wanted to come by and meet with Faye.  Rebecca and Debbie were very wonderful ladies that spent an hour or two visiting with our family and getting a feel for what Faye enjoys and her personality.  Faye was being a bit bashful but eventually started to open up and play with her barbie they brought her.  This evolved into her bringing out her princess dolls and showing them off like a proud mother.  When doctors talked to her in the hospital about make a wish she told them she wanted to be in a parade with Sleeping Beauty.  They told her that should be her wish.  She would see the Disney commercials and ask us if you could really see the princesses in real life at that place.  So when Debbie and Rebecca asked Faye what she would like to do, where she would like to go, who she would like to meet, or something she would like to have she said she wanted to see princesses.  

About a week ago we received word that her wish was approved and that they would be sending her to Disney World on December 7th.  A day or two later we were told that a sorority from Texas A&M (Chi Omega) would like to sponsor Faye's wish and have her be their guest of honor at their annual Song Fest fundraiser.  This fundraiser is an annual event done to raise money for Make a Wish and a local girls ranch.  

The sorority contacted Stacey on Sunday to ask if our family could join them at their planning meeting for the fundraiser.  We showed up to the "Chi-O" House and met Lauren, who is heading up the fundraiser, and a few of the other girls involved.  They were very sweet to the kids and gave Faye a tiara, princess book with stickers, and a Texas A&M Chi-O shirt.  We waited outside a room we were told had around 200 girls in there waiting to hear about Faye.  Lauren went in and made the announcement that they were lucky enough to have found a little girl to sponsor for their fundraiser this year.  We walked in the room to the applause and screams of 200 girls.  Mitchell and Nixon thought that was pretty great but Faye had her head buried in her daddy's shoulder as much as possible.  

Stacey told them Faye's story and we expressed our gratitude for these wonderful ladies and how impressed we are that they take time to give service.  We were especially impressed with what they call their Symphony that reads: "To live constantly above snobbery of word or deed; to place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be in the best sense, democratic rather than "exclusive" and lovable rather than "popular"; to work earnestly, to speak kindly, to act sincerely, to choose thoughtfully, that course which occasion and conscience demand; to be womanly always; to be discouraged never; in a word, to be loyal under any and all circumstances to my Fraternity and her highest teachings, and to have her welfare ever at heart, that she may be a symphony of high purpose and helpfulness in which there is no discordant note".

In our opinion, it is a very impressive guide for these college women to follow and they all seem to be doing it well.  They are absolutely wonderful and we are truly grateful to them for taking such an interest in Faye and their efforts to give her something special.  While I am still nervous about being a dad to a little girl, seeing things like this calms my nerves about her growing up.  

So in summary, we will be joining Faye to meet some princesses and to be a guest of honor at the Chi Omega Song Fest very soon.

 A Few of the Girls!

Modeling her New Crown...and a new nightgown!

I am sure you will guess by the rambling...but just in case (this is Stacey now)

This whole Make a wish event has brought about so many emotions for me!  The whole time that we were in the hospital the idea of just being able to go on a vacation together sounded like a dream come true.  And to be honest some days it is what kept me going.  I know that may seem like a silly thing, but after being split up for so long and trying to balance everything, the idea of getting away from it all together sounded like heaven on earth.  Once we finished treatments with Faye I was just happy to be able to be at home. I was happy she did so well with the treatment and I really couldn't have been happier to be home with the outcome that we were given.  I felt lucky enough to be at home with a now healthy little girl and felt that we didn't need a trip, that we didn't deserve a trip.  I felt like there were so many other kids/ families going through worse things than us and I was just grateful to be home!  I felt like that was reward enough.  So when we were contacted by Make a Wish I didn't feel we deserved it, I had a hard time being excited about it! 

The day we got the call saying they had booked our flights and we were leaving on the 7th I cried.  I cried because I had so many mixed emotions. I was so happy for not only Faye, but for Mitchell...he deserves this just as much as Faye, he was amazing through everything, they were so excited about their trip, and couldn't stop talking about it.  I cried also because I think it finally hit me that what Faye had been through was a life threatening disease.  I know its one of the blessings I was given to remain calm through everything that I knew it would be okay (I know I say that a lot on this blog) I cried because of what this trip meant...some kids don't ever make it to their wish, some kids go on their wish knowing they don't have much time, and some go because of the odds they have overcome!  I finally have come to terms in  my mind that this is something Faye deserves...She was/is a fighter!  She had a great attitude through everything, and she let Cancer know it was not welcome, and it was not going to win!  So for that I am excited!  I might cry during the whole trip....just having to tell the Chi O girls about Faye I couldn't help but get choked up...telling Fayes story on this blog is easier. It's easier to hide behind a computer screen and be tough!  Its when you look straight into someones eyes and you get that look of them being genuinely concerned for you and what you have been through!  So we are going to take it as it is, continue to hope and pray that Faye stays healthy and be grateful that she is one of the lucky ones that gets to make her wishes come true!