Friday, May 6, 2011

St. Jude's

I remember the first time I *really* paid attention to St. Jude's. I'd seen the commercials all the time, frowned and thought how sad it is to see kid's suffering, and occasionally, I'd buy something just because the proceeds would go to them. A dollar at a fast food place here and there.

It wasn't until I woke up sometime during the night after stint of pain and depression, with the TV light blaring into my eyes that I really SAW the commercial.

For days I'd had pain and wallowed in self pity thinking, "how am I supposed to live like this...random pain for the rest of my life?" And then...glaring into my eyes was the inspiration I needed. A beautifully bald-headed soldier. So young to be facing--not a lifetime of pain--but a painfully short life-time. I cried. I watched the whole long commercial from start to finish. Hearing how these children fought so hard for just a couple hours worth of playing time. And there I sat, letting my condition take me.

In that moment, I changed my outlook on my condition, and life in general. I have lived over thirty years, and though I've had pain and problems throughout...I've lived. I have a child, I've known love, I've traveled...there's so much I've done and that I'll now do and all because of St. Jude's.

These children...these beautiful, wonderful bundles of love and inspiration, may not get the chances I've had. And they deserve it far more than I. What, then, can I do except to give and give and give until I have nothing else or until the scientists make a brilliant discovery and cure cancer and lymphoma in children?

I'm asking you, my friends, my peers, my new acquaintances. Help the children who need our support in order to survive. Help give them years instead of hours to play.


St. Jude's <~~~~~ DONATE TO ST. JUDE'S HERE


Giveaways:
Allure Van Sanz T-shirt
Indie YA author Amanda Brice giving away her YA EBook CODENAME: DANCER
Children’s Author Margaret Rose giving away a free, autographed copy of her children’s book First Spring.

For your chance to win, simply leave a comment, and please consider a donation to St. Jude's. You can help us get the word out by tweeting, facebook linking, emailing this post to your family, friends, and peers.

From the bottom of my heart, and the hearts of the donating authors...Thank you.

10 comments:

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy said...

I'm sure we all have our moments when we realized something was very real but for me, seeing a child being treated at St. Jude's on the trolley in Memphis brought the reality home to me. I sat with my healthy children and wanted to weep for the brave little girl from St. Jude's!

Valerie Mann said...

St. Jude's Children's Hospital is my charity. I give to them each month and it's part of my monthly budget. We used to live in Florida and went to the theme parks often and saw St. Jude's children there through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They were normal kids who happened to be sick and I think that's what made me start giving to SJ. I realized they treat the whole family, they encourage kids to be kids in the healing process and I think that's why they're so successful. Thanks for a great blog.

Margie Church said...

Allure, I'm so proud of you for doing this and happy to help. Our family regularly supports St. Jude's and I made a contribution in honor of your efforts today.

Celebrating and asking God's blessings on all children today!

Maeve Greyson said...

When my daughter told me she would be working at St. Jude's for a few weeks as part of her medical training, I cringed. I knew how sensitive she was and I was so afraid she'd be overwhelmed when faced with so many suffering children. After her first week there, she fairly glowed. She told me she'd never felt so much love, hope and strength collected under one roof. She said that EVERYONE at St. Judes, from the highest paid specialist to the worker sweeping the floors walked around with the positive attitude that they were making a difference in the lives of these children. St. Jude's is a bit of heaven on earth and it's filled with struggling angels that need our help. Thank you for this post.

Pommawolf Emeraldwolfeyes said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pommawolf Emeraldwolfeyes said...

This is a wonderful cause
I'm going to twitter this a lot today and post on Facebook.
Don't want to enter contest or giveaway...*S*
Kudos to you for this wonderful thing your doing!

Darcy

J.A. Beard said...

What a wonderful post and what a worthy cause.

Cute and Cuddly Quilts said...

This is such a great cause.. I wish more people would bring awareness to things of this nature.. It only takes one person to start a chain reaction.. Let's try to make it a positive one.. I'll keep posting this information.. Way to go Allure.. Let me know if there's any other way i can help..
Cute and Cuddly Quilts

desere_steenberg said...

Very insprirational post Allure, you made me cry !!

Have a nice weekend and Happy Mothers Day !

Patti Shenberger said...

Allure, you've done St.Jude proud! What an inpsiration you are to others for doing this.