Posted on Wednesday, 17th February 2010 by Catherine
February 2003
A bright blue Colorado sky.
A 12 week old little boy in his car seat.
A “healthy” report from the pediatrician at a well child check.
A call to my mom to tell her the “stats”, height, weight and of course how perfectly healthy he is.
I hang up the phone, turn on the radio and hear a story that changed my thought process immediately.
A local radio station was doing their Annual 36 hours for Kids broadcast from Children’s Hospital. It was like a train wreck – I could not turn off the radio because I got sucked into the heart wrenching stories of families who have children treated at Children’s. Families who uprooted their lives to move to Denver to have their child treated for a life threatening illness, a heart transplant, cancer, daily dialysis treatments.
It apparently is a whole other world to have a sick child. I had no idea. Call me naive or ignorant but I never knew anyone who had to even step foot inside of a Children’s Hosptial. All of my friends (myself included) had healthy children.
Listening to the stories of heartbreak and hope moved me to pick up my phone and call. It went a bit like this -
Operator “Thanks for calling Alice 36 Hours for Kids would you like to be a Partner in Hope for only $15 a month?”
Me “Sure”
Operator “Are you donating on behalf of a specific child?”
Me “Umm I was moved to call because I have a perfectly healthy 12 week old little boy and I can’t imagine being one of the families I heard about on the radio. In fact, I don’t know anyone who has even had to go to Children’s Hospital”
Operator “Well thank you, that is amazingly generous. You are helping children and families who have to be treated at The Children’s Hospital”
Me “Well I am very blessed to have a healthy child and happy to do something to help”
I have been Miracle Maker (previously A Partner in Hope) ever since.
Fast forward 6 years (Feb 2009) and Mason and I are in the lobby of Children’s Hospital waiting to be on the radio encouraging people to call and donate.
It went like this.
DJ “With us now is Mason Bernard and his mom Catherine. Mason has spent a lot of time at Children’s Hospital. He was 2 1/2 when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. Tell me about that”
I recount the events of his diagnosis.
DJ “Recently you have spent quite a bit of time here at Children’s”
Me “Yes in 2008 we spent over 90 nights here. We are in week 45 of 104 of Mason’s relapse treatment”
DJ ” I hear you have a story to share about how you got involved with The 36 Hours for Kids years ago. Share that with us”
I tell the story (like above) when Mason was 12 weeks old. I come to realize we are one of THOSE families -the ones that I heard about back in 2003. The ones that had a child with a life threatening illness. The ones who benefit from the amazing facility and care that Children’s brings to the Denver metro area.
I of course, never in a million years thought we would be one of those families. Before May of 2005 we were just like any other family in town. Just going along about our life with our two children. Ignorant really that kids even get sick at all. We realize even with all we have been through that we are so very blessed.
We get to leave the hospital at the end of the day and there are so many people who have to stay month after month and sometimes leave without their child. We have had our eyes opened to so many hardships and struggles. It has made us appreciate so many things we once took for granted.
So today, as I listen to the radio-a-thon and am almost on the other side of this fence (at least compared to a year ago) I am thankful and feeling blessed. I am glad I called in back in 2003 and committed to helping simply because I recognized I was lucky. It makes me feel good and even today brings a smile to my face.
You just never know how life will unfold; so don’t wait to reach out and give to something you feel passionate about or drawn to.
February 18th, 2010 at 3:03 am
SOOO TRUE! I was in the same shoes…when Jake was diagnosed, we had never been to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. I actually complimented the doctors for their excellent customer service for coming outside to meet us in the valet line at the emergency room. Little did I know that Jake's condition was the worst they had ever seen and little did I know how much that hospital would become part of our lives and our family. Thankful for facilities and doctors that are so close by and ultra-thankful for healthy kids. You can do it- one step at a time in your dancing shoes. (the comfy ones, not the pointy toed ones that end up hurting even though they are cute!)
Thanks for your words- you lift us up each day!
ELLE–
aka Jake's crazy mama
February 18th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Oh Cath! Once again you have moved me to tears and inspired me with your story – Mason’s story. My life changed right along with yours in May 2005 with the diagnosis of my mom and remembering being with her in Waco when I first read your email about Mason. Hard to believe that was almost 5 years ago and to think of all that has happened in those 5 years. I am so very thankful to call you my friend and to have had you in my corner all these years. Sending love and prayers as always to you and your family.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Another great part to your story. Thanks for sharing!
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