As I sit here in this quiet hospital room watching my nearly bald 11 year old sleep the day away while someone else's blood is being pumped into her body, I find myself resisting the urge to feel sorry about this whole big mess!
Instead, I am flipping through photos of yesterday's bake sale and reliving the days events...
I was at the hospital to visit with Faith before the Bake Sale began. As I approached Sanborn, I noticed the first sign "Please Help my Sister. She really needs it! Bake Sale Today". Kady..that little stinker! I haven't even gotten out of the car and already I am emotional. Truthfully, I fought back tears the entire drive from PCH to Chandler, so not surprising.
As I get out of my car and approach the crowd, the first person who approaches me is a total stranger. She shakes my hand. She is crying. She places something round and smooth in my palm and proceeds to tell me that her 28 year old niece died from cancer and left 2 wonderful little boys. She can't explain why, but she had a strong connection to us and had to come a long way to wish us well. We hug, both sobbing now, and then she promptly leaves. In my hand is a clear acrylic rock with a guardian angel it. The angel will look over us now.
There are people everywhere, some I know, some I don't know. It's awesome in the truest sense of the word...AWEsome! I try to say hello to everyone I know and introduce myself to those I don't. I had feared that it would be awkward to be there watching people overpay for baked goods and lemonade all to help me, to help Faith, to help us all. I am a textbook middle child. I do for myself, fly under the radar, a one-man band. But, I can't be that way anymore. We need help! We need it financially, physically, and especially emotionally. It turns out that it wasn't awkward at all. It was uplifting, all of these people that I've nodded at in the grocery store, or virtually "liked" from my phone are here to help. People I've shared meals and holidays with, people whose teeth I've worked on, my 8 year old friend's mom, my neighbors, Chandler's manager...they are all here! They will hold us up and I am ever so humble and thankful for that.
The fire department came and let the kids climb all around the ambulance and truck. The news came and interviewed Chandler, Kady, the Funicello boys and I. Kady got emotional. The boys shaved their heads! Gross and cool all at the same time. What a selfless way for men, who tend not to express emotion, to show they care. I was touched.
At the end, a tall man approached Cindi looking for me. He had a check and a note. Apparently, he had just come all the way from I-17 to bring us a well-wish and some money. He said he had seen Faith's story on the news and felt that he "should do the right thing". The check was for $100 and he was a total stranger! Wow!
$6000! That's approximately how much money was raised at the bake sale which was the brainchild of Jack and Sam Funicello! Money, our spirits, and a renewed confidence in human kindness. Thank you to the Funicello's and all of the family, friends and neighbors who helped to make the boys vision a reality. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their holiday weekend to come out, brave the heat, and Stand for Faith!