Just Keep Swimming...

Dory, the happy go lucky fish from the "Finding Nemo" movie said it best when she sang "Just keep swimming," to Marlin when he was under distress looking for his son.

"You know what you gotta do when life gets you down?
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming swimming swimming
What do we do we swim, swim, swim
OH HO HO How I love to swim
When you WAAAAAANNTTT to swim you want to swim..."

Brittany hasn't been feeling well lately.  Her stomach has been giving her problems, waking her up at night.  Of course her parents worry and want to ease her discomforts the best they can.  After many doctors appointments, scans, tests, new medications...nothing seems to be working.

And yet, Sandy and Rich...just keep swimming.  They will not give up.  NBIA needs you...please donate to a cause dedicated to finding a cure for these children who suffer from this terrible disease.

Don't Forget the Little Guys....

I went over to Brittany's house last week and saw this peaceful darling sound asleep on the couch.  I had to snap a picture to capture the feeling of love I had for the Leap Family right at that moment.

She ended up sleeping the entire time I was there...even through her lunchtime feeding.  No Candyland for us...boo!

For today's post, I wanted to share a portion of a letter written by Amanda.  She sent this to Sandy after meeting Brittany last week:

"After meeting Brittany, I began to think.  Cancer is a terrible thing, but there are cures and many people are still able to live great lives.  Clearly, further reserach can always be done and new cures will be found, but when is enough, enough?  There organizations have billions of dollars and will continue to ask for more. Many people, including myself, continue to give in hopes of helping others, but we don't stop to think about other charities that are in need-much more than many of these organizations.

I want to help spread awareness about Brittany and her disorder and help people realize that maybe their money will do more good in other places.  Cancer organizations will continue to need donations, but maybe not as much. I would never discourage someone from donating to a charity which they are connected to but instead encourage them to possible give a little less-and give as well to a cause that needs more.  We have been able to find treatments and cures for so many dieseases and disorders and there is no reason we can't find one for Brittany.  I believe that reaching out to these organizations that have so much and showing them what life is like for Brittany.  Individuals who are sick with cancer (and other more common diseases) may be weak but they can still walk, talk and feed themselves.  Brittany, unable to do these things on her own, cannot live the life that even many cancer patients are able to live. It many be difficult to convince someone who has never struggled to give money, but a person who has been sick and been through the struggle is much more likely to feel what Brittany feels.  Those who are now happy and healthy, know that it is possible to find cures, but not without much research and donations to fund that research.  I am sure that many of these people are able to sympathize with Brittany and realize that it is time we start to look for cures for the lesser known disorders and begin to help those who have bigger needs."

I loved what Amanda had to say. Sandy and I have talked about the millions of dollars that are given to charities by corporations, the government and private sponsers.  And although we realize that more people suffer from cancer (and other more common diseases), there are millions that suffer from rare disorders as well.  It makes it that much harder to find cures and treatments for theses diseases because there are so many different ones and so few with each one.  Funds are limited on research for each specific disorder...so treatments (even diagnosing these rare disorders) and cures are slowed tremendously.

We will fight for NBIA...no matter how small the number who suffer.  There is one little girl who has a huge cheering section...and we will be heard.

Please make a donation for NBIA research!

Half Way There....

I can't believe the generous donations we have received for Brittany and NBIA!  We are already half way to our goal!

NBIA has a long mountain to climb in search of a cure...and in searching for ways to keep these children alive.

I know many of you have mentioned your desire to donate...please do so today! 

Together we can help Brittany climb her mountain...even if we have to carry her...we will help her reach the top.

By Small Means, Great Things Shall Come to Pass...

I find it a hard task to teach my children the joy of giving.  Our society has been very successful at leading many down the road of instantaneous happiness, making one believe that is what brings true joy. "Giving" is put on the back burner and "getting" is forefront...always simmering...ready to boil!   But I think deep down (at least I hope we do), we as adults, know the difference between a quick dip of selfish happiness and the joy that comes from truly giving of ourselves.

It is that giving spirit I want my children to possess...and I think slowly but surely they are learning.  Last week I was able to watch Brittany while Rich and Sandy went to a movie.  Ashton asked if he could come with me, insisting we play a game of Candyland with Brittany.  Soon after our arrival, the game was set up, Brittany picked our Gingerbread playing pieces and Ashton held the stack of cards close by so he could move not only his "man," but Brittany's as well.

As cards were flipped over and the playing pieces were moved closer to the finish, Ashton was in the lead.  I was nervous that he might get a "bad" card sending him back to the start (you see, he is our "baby" in the family and usually gets what he wants...and when he doesn't...watch out).  Sure enough, just after that thought crossed my mind, Ashton was sent back to the start.  With Brittany in the lead, he looked up ready to cry.  But he didn't. I saw him look at Brittany and he had a change of heart.  He said quietly to himself, "It will be okay.  I can go back."

Brittany did end up winning that game.  Ashton took second and I pulled up the rear in third.  But I know he felt joy with the decision he made to go back to the start without a complaint.

I loved the questions he asked me while we tended to Brittany.  "Can she laugh?"  he said.  "Of course she can," I replied, "As long as you say something funny." 

He immediately told her a knock knock joke.  She giggled (although I think it was out of the kindness of her heart).

Being with Brittany is just a small thing that we do as a family but it is giving us the opportunity to learn great things...things that bring us joy.

My children asked me the other day if they could make their guess for my marathon finishing time. "No," I said, "You must first make a donation to NBIA (which Ethan can tell you just what it stands for)."  They each ran up to their rooms and collected $3 from their piggy banks.  We stopped by on Sunday before church to get a quick picture with Brittany and say Happy New Year.

I know two of the kids gave all they had...

It is "by small means that great things shall come to pass..." that is why we are asking even for small  amounts to be donated.  We want your children to give...of themselves.  It is in giving, they will find joy, the kind of joy that lasts.

Please donate to the Boston for Brittany fund...all donations go directly to NBIA research.