We've had a week to reflect. A week to digest and talk about. And a week to be grateful!
And we still aren't over it.
Words can't describe how special of a day last Wednesday was!!!
Last Wednesday, Avery, myself and Amberlynn got to be apart of the Huyndai Hope on Wheels hand print ceremony!
One of our Dr's was being awarded a $100,000 impact award for research. He asked if we would be willing to say a few words of thanks and share our experience. It was truly an honor, priceless, privilege to not only be asked but also participate!
The day was just so sweet and special. The girls and I got dressed up. I wrote out a speech. We talked A LOT about letting our light shine by being kind and respectful. We were prepared but unsure what to really expect.
After hearing the speeches of others these are some key take always....
✔️Childrens MN helps the most oncology kids in the state.
✔️Only 25% of their research to make patients more comfortable and have the best outcomes are funded through the Children's Oncology Group. The other 75% has to be funded through individual donations like this one from Huyndai Hope on Wheels.
✔️It is Huyndai's hope on wheels 25 anniversary of donating money towards childhood cancer research. They have donated 25 million dollars.
✔️Avery will be followed until she is 30 through children's and supported in anyway she needs.
✔️One of Childrens missions is to put family first (we definitely feel this when we are in clinic and in the hospital!)
Although the ceremony itself was exciting and the girls being the center of attention was fun. The moments that will stick with me forever are the quiet ones.
Memories I will always remember...
⭐️ Walking over to the ceremony from the clinic with the doctors and nurses and then quietly exclaiming 'she really is doing remarkable! Look at all her energy! You would never know she's in treatment!'
⭐️ Ms Myndy (one of our doctors) sitting and playing beads with Avery AND Amberlynn for 20 mins and then distracting them by looking out the window and finding the perfect spot on the car to put their handprints
⭐️ Miranda (our favorite nurse) taking so many pictures of us so we can remember forever this special day
⭐️ All of the Doctors and Nurses from the clinic and hospital getting excited to see how long Avery's hair is getting!
⭐️ How well they included Amberlynn and made her feel special too!
⭐️ The sweet words of encouragement and thanks from everyone included about my speech
⭐️ Ms Myndy caring all of our left over stuff (scarfs and jackets and bracelets and beads...) so I could just concentrate on the girls
⭐️ Dr Richards coming back to see how the rest of our treatment went for the day and showing how the paint went through his jacket onto his shirt
⭐️ Everyone knowing Avery's name and Amberlynn's name-- it seriously felt like everyone was there to cheer on Avery and our family in this fight versuses congratulating Dr Richards on his impact award.
⭐️Our sweet family (nurses and doctors) asking Amberlynn and Avery where the perfect spot was for them to put their handprints and doing it together
⭐️The MN United Loon being sooo excited that Amberlynn knew loons says 'where are you' as their bird call and giving BOTH girls a special scarf
⭐️The front desk staff waiting at the door for us to come back and ask if Avery had fun and wanting to know everything (there are rumors our family that still had to work were smooshed up against the window watching from afar)
⭐️The sweet stories of Avery being shared throughout the crowd
Since last Wednesday Avery has asked if she can paint ever white car we see!
She also calls out Dr Richards whenever she sees him for not wearing his handprint jacket. Today at her check up he purposely came in his jacket and she was soooo excited! 'You wear your handprint jacket!!'
Since last Wednesday the girls are treated like royalty. The are greeted with 'oh there's our sweet faces of the hospital'. Everyone wants to talk with them and ask them how they liked the ceremony! It is fun and exhausting all at the same time. Mostly a blessing as the girls love to tell about their fun and LOVE being the center of attention.
The ceremony itself was fun.
I got to learn more about the hospital and amazing people like Huyndai Hope of Wheels that are fighting to end childhood cancer. I got to public express our thanks and gratitude to our hospital/clinic family! And most importantly we got to be a small part of a much larger story for bringing awareness to childhood cancer. I feel so honored that Avery's handprint specifically will continue to stay on the vehicle to show her story and her fight.
The love we felt and the memories we made will forever be cherished!
Thank you Huyndai Hope on Wheels and thank you to our clinic/hospital family!
Below is my speech just because I feel it should live on a little more!
Good Morning and thank you for having us!
Through out this whole journey, we have chosen to focus on the positive, have a greatful heart and find ways to bless others! So when we were asked if we would be willing to say a few words of thanks to Hyundai Hope on Wheels for their wonderful donation we jumped at the chance. So first and foremost, thank you to Hyundai for spreading hope. We praise god daily for our doctors and nurses, therapists and support staff! Thank you for never giving up and supporting us so well. I would name drop, but we would be here forever as they have ALL become family!
Now let me introduce you to Avery! She is part of the reason we are here. Avery was diagnosed with Leukemia on October 17, 2022. She started chemo on her 18 month birthday. During the last year we have spent countless hours getting to spread joy at the clinic for check ups and chemo appointments (we like to bring cookies and chocolates as a small show of gratitude to our nurse family), we’ve spent 45 days in the hospital where Avery learned to ride a bike and would race Dr Richards down the hallways and most importantly we have been able to give back. The day Avery was diagnosed one of the questions was if we wanted to put her in a trial. It was explained that this trial was simply to gain research. We didn’t even blink an eye before saying yes. If someone can learn from what Avery is going through to help prevent anyone else from having to go through it, of course we want to be a part of it! So again thank you Hyundai Hope on Wheels for your donation not only towards Avery but towards the future of a cancer free world! Ladies what do we say? THANK YOU!!
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