So Very Thankful

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  I have so many reasons to be thankful, but today I was given a very special reason to be thankful.

As I entered the children's floor at the cancer center this morning,  I was greeted with overwhelming happiness and love.  The children, and their parents had a wonderful gift for me.  Two of the kids ran to me, grabbed my hands, and led me into the community room.  They sat me in the "special" chair and told me to wait there.  I sat there anxiously waiting for my surprise.  The children, and their parents began filling the community room.  I found it strange that so many families were at the hospital during normal working hours, but I didn't question it further.  I was excited to see what the special occasion was.  As the families filed in, I notice each family was holding a piece of paper.  Once everyone was in the room the offering began.  One-by-one the children showed me their papers.  The families had individually made a drawing for me to show how much I have impacted their lives.  As each family presented their picture to me, my heart grew warmer. Naturally tears of joy and gratitude began streaming down my cheeks.  After all of the families were finished presenting their drawings, the parents collected the papers, and bound them all together into a picture book.  They told me that children wanted me to have a piece of them with me wherever I go.  I took the book, and held it tightly in my arms.  This is one gift I will cherish forever.

If that wasn't enough, the parents told me that they had another present for me.  All of the kids, and parents had come up with a t-shirt design for a booster campaign.  They wanted to sponsor a fundraiser for me to help out with my medical bills, and traveling expenses to Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC.  Nathan's parents (Nathan was the inspiration for Superhero Day) shared the idea with the other children, and their families.  All of the families were onboard, so they began brainstorming about the graphic for the t-shirt.  After a couple craft sessions, the families were ready to bequeath the design to me.

A little back story... Last month, I sponsored a booster campaign, and designed a t-shirt for Nathan's family to help with their medical expenses.  The fundraiser helped ease some financial stress for them, and they wanted to return the favor to me.

Nathan and his family gathered around to show me the t-shirt idea, and I was completely enamored by the amount of thought, and love that went into the design.  The children and their families have all noticed, and commented on my tattoos.  One of them always seems to stand out.  The words Courage and Strength tattooed on my right forearm with the Irish symbol for courage always tugs on the heartstrings of those whom see it.  I wear it proudly as a reminder to stay strong through each treatment and each setback, as well as, to remain courageous going into each new day.

The tears were again flowing as the family reviled the graphic for the t-shirt.  Everyone knew it would be an emotional moment, and it would be difficult to get the words out, so they typed out why the choose the specific design.  Nathan's sister scrolled down on the computer to show me what they had written.

It read:
The graphic design for this t-shirt was designed by children and parents that Meg visits at the Cancer Center in Syracuse, NY.  The idea was sparked from the tattoo Meg has on her right forearm.  The true spirit of the words Courage and Strength live within Meg.  Her unwavering fight towards a cure for her cancer, and the support she has for her fellow cancer patients is awe-inspiring.  Meg is the epitome of Courage and Strength!  Her never-back-down approach to cancer, and her positive outlook on life is a gift to us all!  We love you Meg!

We were all blubbering messes!  Children, parents, nurses, and doctors were all gathered around.  Needless to say, we all had a good cry, at one point, or another.  Oy Vey!

Thanksgiving is next week, but regardless of what month it is, I have A LOT to be thankful for!

If you would like to see the t-shirt design, or would like to order a t-shirt to support my fundraiser, please visit www.Booster.com.  The campaign is called: Hope For Meg (It may take a day for the campaign to get up and running).
Thank you