when I was 13 I stayed with my sister in chicago for an entire summer. she had no idea what to do with me, so she just brought me to work every day at children’s memorial hospital. she worked with kids who needed a respirator to help them breathe, in most cases permanently. these kids, from tiny babies on up, were hooked up to all sorts of tubes and wires, but i didn’t think twice about holding them and playing with them. (which would have been against all sorts of regulations today but back in the day it was ok.) i remember every child who was under her care that summer – joey, scottie and theresa were adorable, cuddly little toddlers. jennifer was a 7-year-old with severe cerebral palsy whose smile lit up the room. ben and doris were my age. doris and i would sneak into the nurses’ station, make microwave popcorn, and sit on her bed and watch the twilight zone every night. looking back on it, after having kids of my own, i honestly don’t know how their parents did it. not only having the courage to visit their children every day – and having to leave them there every night – but also having to face the financial responsibility of caring for a chronically ill child. i know that i am so very, very blessed to have happy, healthy children. and i know that i should never take anything for granted. on october 10, i will run 26.2 miles for the ronald mcdonald house, which helps parents of children like joey, scottie, ben, theresa, jennifer and doris get the emotional and financial support they need and deserve.
please watch this (not the slickest video, ad people, but it makes the point):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdkhOelLd48&feature=player_embedded
and donate here:
http://www.active.com/donate/RMHC2010/lisaleone
thank you so much!
