Our Angel Tree Family

As some of you may know, our office "adopted" an entire family for Christmas this year as part of the Angel Tree Program that our hospital takes part in each year. Go Here to read my initial post.

Several things happened in between this post & my last post. We found out more about our family, their health situations, family situations, wants, needs, and their life in general. I can't honestly begin to tell you how hard their life is right now. I feel for them and it makes me really Thankful to have everything that I have. My wants & needs pale in comparison to those of this family. My heart truly breaks for them.

As a recap -
Mom - cervical cancer
Son - 5 yrs old - brain tumor
Son - 10 yrs old - several health problems due to a vehicle accident
Daughter - 12 yrs old

The Mom's niece is also in their house now. A precious little 5 year old girl.

Our department pulled together, along with the help of a few others including a local high school state champ football team, Author Deborah Palumbo, and a local fabulous photographer who donated a free family portrait session.

The Mother just stopped by to pick up her family's gifts & let's just say that tears were definitely shed. It broke my heart to hear of her struggle with providing the medical care her children needed OR paying for Christmas presents. When asked if she'd like to keep the left over wrapping paper for wrapping any gifts she may have at home, she said that there were none. As a mom, I can only imagine the struggle of not being able to provide for children.

I wanted to say Thank You to each and every one of you who may have reached out to help a family in need in your community. It truly is an amazing feeling to be able to pay it forward because there will be times of struggle in each and every one of our lives at some point or another. Be Thankful for what you have - including the health of your children & family members.

I hope each and every one of you have a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays 

& a Happy New Year! 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

I love putting up the Christmas Tree ^_^

 

 

Well... this is Bay's first Christmas...

 the 90 pound mastiff = 1

Christmas Tree = 0

 

Bay decided the tree needed less decorations, a few of the gifts needed to be taken out, and the tree skirt should be demolished... This was only the first day the tree was up... How many more days before Christmas?? We may not have a tree left by December 25 Ha >_<

 

Sooo.. I don't know how the rest of you feel about paper/hard copy books vs E-books.... I read both paper & e books but paper copies are my heart when it comes to books. Very fewe things can compare to the feeling you have when you put physical book in your hand for the first time and begin to read... or grab that book you haven't read in forever with the warn out spine off your shelf... *sigh*

 

I feel the pain at Christmas time... I used to LOVE getting books under the tree but giftcards just aren't that much fun, LoL...I mean, yea, I love the fact that I can take a giftcard and get any books I want... BUT I really enjoy it when others give me books that are on my wishlists instead... It seems more personal... more thought-out... if that makes sense...

 

What do you guys think?

Christmas - Be Thankful For What You Have

Alrighty everyone... this post is NOT about books but PLEASE continue reading anyway....

Each year, the hospital I work for takes part in a program called Angel Tree Ministries. Staff & Departments in our hospital "adopt" local kids that wouldn't really have a Christmas if it wasn't for programs like Angel Tree Ministries. We get their ages, first names, clothing sizes and wish lists.... My Department (7 Women in Total) like to adopt 2 kids - usually 1 boy & 1 girl - and buy gifts for both.

This year, we've been asked about "adopting" a family of 3 kids and their mom.

Please bare with me - this will hurt your heart....

The mom has cervical cancer.... the dad bailed on the family... the 12 year old daughter is taking on the role of mom to her little brothers because their mom is sick... the 8 year old son was hit by a truck and suffers from lots of medical problems including having a colostomy... the 5 year old son has a brain tumor and this will most likely be his last Christmas...

Crying yet? Join the rest of us...

So of course, we all immediately agreed to "adopting" the entire family. We want to make sure this family has the most amazing Christmas and hopefully several more to come. We want to be able to provide them a tree, decorations, plus anything else that they may need or want.

I'm telling you this because I want you all to take a step back and take a moment to be thankful to all that you have....

If any of you want to help us out and make sure this family has an amazing Christmas, let me know.

If you have families in your area that could use a blessing this year, reach out to them...