I’ve Got an Opinion on Everything

How to Raise a Child who is Not a Bigot

April 23, 2012 By Kristen 13 Comments

Step 1: Get a friend who doesn’t look exactly like you. If all your friends look exactly the same – and that is exactly like you … then you need to find a new social scene. I’m serious. If you want your children to understand the value of diversity – then be diverse. You have to practice what you preach. If you DON’T have a friend with a different skin tone or style of dress or attitude… then assess why that is. Why is it that others have diverse friends and you don’t? It really isn’t hard. People are people. You just need to talk to some new people. I’m not saying make a “token” white/black/Asian/ etc. friend. I’m saying – make some real friends. Start looking past the color of someone’s skin or the way they dress and find some new friends.

Step 2: Find some things in your community – and take your children to do them. Instead of signing your kids up YMCA sports, why don’t you take your kids to the local recreation center and sign up for some of the other team activities? Many times you will find your horizons broadened by allowing yourself to enjoy some activities that are free or reduced cost. Our family also went to an “Adult Day Care” today. We went with our church and sang Bible songs. The twins were in complete awe of the experience. Yes, the selfish part of me wants them to be comfortable with an adult who has a body tic or possibly verbalizes without control. But, I believe I would have taken them even if we didn’t have Alexander. I used to work at this center and have fond memories of time spent with people who find joy in the smallest of things.

Step 3: Give Back. Volunteer at a food bank or serve food at a shelter. You don’t have to be wealthy to give time. It is the best donation and it is free. This year our family has applied to allow a child from an urban area to come stay with us and experience “country” life for a week. Small things like fireworks, riding a bike, hiking the mountains, …. it costs us nothing. But we are so excited!!! We have an opportunity to give something to someone else. (ps. will not be blogging about that for obvious privacy reasons). Can you find a program to GIVE to?

Step 4: The most important step – Accept your child for the person they become. Encourage your child to grow into their “authentic self.” They shouldn’t have to live life trying to meet someone else’s expectations. Tell your child that you love them, no matter what. There are words of affection that pass between the mouths of my children and myself almost hourly. People actually say, “awww” when they hear Addison say things like, “I love you so much Mommy.” or “I love you all the time.” Where do you think she learned those phrases? I don’t love her only if she becomes a lawyer and lives the life I imagined for her. I love her no matter what – all the time. Tell your children you do also.

Complete these 4 steps – and your child will learn that diversity isn’t a word people toss around to make themselves look good. It is a lifestyle – that can become part of your routine when you put words into actions.

Now it is my turn… What would you add to the list? To make it better? And.. As always – Thanks Shell, for letting me share something from my heart.

Filed Under: Social Rights, Uncategorized Tagged With: I've Got an Opinion on Everything, Teaching

Sometimes Support Groups Suck

April 17, 2012 By Kristen 38 Comments

When there aren’t that many of you… people tend to find comfort in numbers.

There is a comfort that comes from knowing that someone else really “gets” you. There is a serenity that comes from knowing that your friends can help you navigate a world of complex medical issues.

There is support in those numbers. We love each other. We grieve together. We celebrate together. We understand that life isn’t measured by years or days; instead – minutes…. moments. Life is measured in moments.

But, sometimes support groups are not all they are cracked up to be. Sometimes I feel that WHS is all around me. Like the noose that suffocates me. I just can’t break loose.

Maybe today… I don’t want to discuss deletion sizes and how it may or may not impact our kids.

Maybe today… I don’t care.

Maybe today… I don’t want to be reminded about all the scary dental/urinary tract/ kidney/ EVERYTHING issues.

It isn’t that I don’t care. We have those issues too.

But, just maybe – today … I want to pretend that we don’t.

And yet, being a part of 4 WHS support communities and 4 other special needs communities – complete with notifications, e-mails, and updates, is sometimes overwhelming.

It tears at your heart. … to know so many people who have medical issues. To read the fear of our friends. It isn’t like a “real world” – where you know one child in the hospital… it is this medically fragile world – that can have numerous children in the hospital on any given day.

Sometimes it is us. And we need support. Sometimes it isn’t… and – it can be overwhelming.

Confession: I don’t want to look the future… positive or negative. Because, the truth is – every child (with or without WHS) is different. And one person’s reality is not ours. Nor is our reality someone else’s.

Maybe today – I just want to be us. Family of 5.

ps. I really hope our friends in our WHS community can understand the post of my heart. And thanks, Shell – for letting me share it.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Battling the Demons Within, I've Got an Opinion on Everything, Special Needs, WHS

Guest Post: “She’s Never Worked A Day in Her Life”

April 17, 2012 By Kristen 11 Comments

My friend Heather is a soul sister to me. She is not only raising two sets of twins, but she is also a sociologist… a girl of my heart. I love her perspective on life – and … in this case: women. I’m excited to share her thoughts with you – especially in this very charged atmosphere.

********

Thanks to the recent discussion among politicians, daily citizens, and the American media regarding women, I have had a lot to contemplate about during the quiet moments in my life, which are few and far between for me as a SAHM of 4 children, a private violin teacher, and as a wife of a teacher and professional artist.

Busy. It defines my life. However, my life is not defined by what keeps me busy, but what my beliefs are and how those beliefs eventually intersect with other people and their lives. In fact, I was a person with a belief pattern before I was anything listed above. It is what has helped define my life and laid the path out before me.

So, I heard comments made by Hilary Rosen and I shuddered. I shuddered, not because I agreed with her or disagreed with her, not because I want Obama to win or want Romney to win, not because I like Michelle Obama or like Ann Romney, but simply shuddered because once again, a woman was attacking another woman.

“Guess what?” Rosen said. “His wife has actually never worked a day in her life. She’s never really dealt with the kinds of economic issues that a majority of the women in this country are facing.” – Huffington Post

I have heard it time and again. In fact, turn on the news (I have stopped doing so for this reason) and you will hear it. Turn on entertainment news and you will hear it. You don’t even have to turn on the news to hear it…I have heard it in familiar company. She is too fat. She is too skinny. She is too muscular. Her hair is too long, short, blonde, red, black, brown. She dresses like she is a teenager. She dresses like she is an old lady. She goes out without her kids so she must not care about her kids. She never goes out so she must not have a life. She works so much that she can’t have time for her kids.

She stays at home and does nothing all day.

I have heard from women that are disgusted by Rosen’s comments, but at the same time, have blasted women for working because they clearly don’t care about their children and must have a career because of their need of material gain. I have heard or read disparaging remarks made about stay at home moms. I know what is said. It happens on both sides.

Rosen’s comments don’t reflect on my beliefs any more than a woman talking negatively about a working mom. If you are disgusted by one remark, you should be disgusted by all remarks. If you condemn Rosen for speaking ill about stay at home moms, you should condemn women that slam working women. They are both offensive to me.

At the end of the day, we live in a free society. This negativity can eat away at our lives if we allow it to do so. We, as women, should be standing together. We should be promoting positivity. We should be encouraging moms that want to stay at home and raise their family to do so, encouraging moms that want a career or need to have a career to support their families to do so. We should support each other, even if our beliefs are different.

Filed Under: Social Rights, Uncategorized Tagged With: Guest Post, I've Got an Opinion on Everything

Hello Addison, Please meet Miss Bimbo

April 12, 2012 By Kristen 6 Comments

I read the most disturbing thing on the internet today. I know… shocking.

It is a website where you can dress up and play make believe with your online doll. Miss Bimbo

I’m not lying. See for yourself:

From the “About” page:

Howdy,
My name is Cindy aka Miss Bimbo!
I created this game in 2006 combining my passion for fashion and technology.
I am just an ordinary California girl. I love sports, my family, friends and fashion! I work as a senior software programmer at facebook which is really cool.
In my spare time I hang out with my friends and online here. I guess my friends would describe me a typical bimbo (but my boobs are real!).

I want to introduce you to a couple of people.
American Bimbo is my best friend. We went through high school together and we are life long buddies.
She has the most amazing fashion sense and is the coolest person I know in the world.

Mama Bimbo is also on this site and I love her to bits.
She taught me everything I know about fashion and style. I love you Mom.

Finally………ahemm…… the evil one
There is a dark secret within our family that I cant tell you about now but sign up and I will tell you more!
Hope to see you soon on MissBimbo.com
love and kisses,
Miss Bimbo

Disturbing? This website was created by a woman and to date has “625 bimbos on-line now and 2865064 registered Bimbos!” – from their header.

Are. You. Kidding. Me? How could that many people want to be called a Bimbo? Seriously? What is WRONG with people?

Why do we take such pleasure in devaluing women? What is it that has turned our society into one that criticizes the looks of anyone not deemed “perfect” and creates this celebrity status based on beauty?

What are we teaching our children? Should I just go ahead and tell Addison what plastic surgery she should get to be successful in life? Should I make sure Andrew looks for “beautiful” friends – because that is all that matters?

Really? These are not my values, but I can not get past how 2865064 people have registered for a site as offensive as this.

(Oh – and I’ve got two children on my lap as I type. I clicked on the internet and the Miss Bimbo page popped on. Andrew said, “Is that a princess?”) Shit.

Shocked? Well, let’s put this in perspective:

Barbie, if she was a real person would not be able to stand erect. Her “ideal weight” is 110 lbs and proportionate height would be 5’9’’. This would give her a BMI of 16.4 – anorexic. Want to see her in real-life proportions? Check out this girl’s body image project HERE.

Today, while I was writing this post, I logged onto Yahoo to check my e-mail. Top stories:

Ashley Judd was criticized because her face is “too chubby.”

The photogenic man is now an internet sensation. For looking good while running a race.

And finally, I came across this website on MSN. Plastic Surgery gone bad. No lie – all published today.

When does it end? When will we stop telling our children that beauty is only skin deep? When will we finally tell our daughters that a BIMBO is not something you want to be?

And, if it isn’t us… then who will tell her?

Filed Under: Social Rights, Uncategorized Tagged With: I've Got an Opinion on Everything, Sweet Child of Mine

Today I’m posting at MLG

March 16, 2012 By Kristen 1 Comment

Today – I’m over at Must Love God – talking about the election season as a Christian. I know… It sounds kind of boring – doesn’t it. Smile Well, I hope we all remember that as Christians – we don’t have to be the same political party to believe in God. Especially this year with so much religious verbiage floating around. So head on over and give some love to a wonderful community of women.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: I've Got an Opinion on Everything, My Journey in Faith

I thought I was a Bully. I guess I’m Not.

March 15, 2012 By Kristen 3 Comments

I took the pledge. In case you don’t know – it is the MOM Pledge… not to bully one another. The amazing woman who came up with this awesome concept asked me why I didn’t have the badge on my site. A lot of Mom Bloggers do.

I told her honestly… Because I thought I was too opinionated. I miss the …. advocacy of it all. I miss discussing social situations. I miss having a real opinion on anything other than my kid’s poop. So, I’ve been slowly adding those posts into the mix. I realize they don’t always “fit” in with the Mommy in me, but they are definitely part of me.

I sent her a link – to the post about the Mom in Portland (which was featured at BlogHer – YAY!) and told her honestly – that I really wanted to be able to be passionate when I felt there were things happening I didn’t quite agree with.

A funny thing happened. She told me I wasn’t a bully. She quoted my last paragraph where I welcomed other points of view and invited me to join anyway. I guess I’m not as mean as I thought I was.

So… I took it, but I’m also changing some things on the blog. I’ve created a new tab across the top called Social Rights. I’m going to indulge my passion of reading the news and forming an opinion. I’m eventually going to just move those posts over there and allow my main blog to be more “Mommy.” And then – I think the blog will be more Me.

As always, I love your support. I’m going to continue to write for me, for you – but really for me too. I hope you enjoy some of the things I find myself passionate about. I welcome differing opinions. But, if that’s not your cup of tea – feel free to just keep reading about us … my kids are still pretty amazing. (ok – minus the poop stuff.)

Thanks!

Filed Under: Random Things Tagged With: I've Got an Opinion on Everything, In the Online World

You are Beautiful

March 11, 2012 By Kristen 9 Comments

You know, sometimes you just have to shelve your original plans for a post and go with your heart. Tonight, while listening to The Word FM, I heard the most disturbing news. And, thus – this post.

Apparently there is a new trend happening on YouTube. Teens have been posting videos of themselves online – asking the public if they are beautiful.

I don’t really know where to begin from here. Who do I address? The teenagers? You are Beautiful. Just the way you are. You should know that. But, If you don’t know… I understand – you are young. Let’s talk to some people who should know better first.

How about the parents? Grandparents? Mentors? Do you tell your children they are beautiful? Do you encourage them? Do you stroke their hair and kiss their cheeks? Do. You. Tell. Your. Kids. You. Love. Them? No, this is not sort of a rhetorical question. Don’t assume they know. Because they don’t just “know.” They want words. Parents, I’m telling you this as someone who has spent 50 or more hours a week with teenagers for the last 8 years. They need both – actions and words. These videos are just one more cry for those words. Please tell your children they are beautiful. Continue to tell them – every single day. It doesn’t matter if they wear clothes you don’t approve of, or do things you don’t approve of… these are just phases. They need to know you love them. As horrible as this sounds, our society has put some sort of link between beauty and love. So for now, don’t assume it is implied. Tell them you love them. Tell them they are beautiful – so they don’t need to ask strangers.

Which brings me to society. What is wrong with us? As a people? That we put so much emphasis on beauty? That we equate beauty with love? And… we set this standard for beauty that no one can live up to? Don’t we see what we are doing to the young people? As if anorexia, bulimia, and other body issues aren’t enough – now we are going to allow teens to feel so “unworthy” that they publically ask to be critiqued on this standard? Shame. On. Us. We should be telling the children in our society that size 0 is not the norm. We all know this, but we still don’t practice it. Please, ease some of the pressure. As a society- we need to remind our youth that beauty is not based on air brushed models.

So, finally… back to the teenagers. It really doesn’t matter. If you are a size 2, or 12, or 22. You are still beautiful. You are still loved. If you spend time with people who don’t help you realize that – find new people. If a guy/girl isn’t interested in you – it is their loss. Someone better will come along. You want to surround yourself with people who appreciate you for everything you have to offer. Those people exist… and those people don’t base their judgments on this ideal of beauty. Because. You. Are. All. Beautiful.

Beauty isn’t what is shown on the outside. Beauty is from the inside. Please, don’t ask the world to judge you. You don’t need it. You are perfect, just as you are.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: I've Got an Opinion on Everything, Parenting

It’s Not Cool to be Gay

February 28, 2012 By Kristen 36 Comments

This isn’t the post you think it is. Some people will love this post. Some people will hate it. I’m ok with that.

Some people will disagree with my opinion. I’m ok with that too. Just please remember that we all are entitled to our own opinions. And around here – we respect each other.

Another Letter… this time to former students.

I want them to know I am proud of them.

I watched you grow up. I was there… watching as you turned from boys into men. I was there, watching you navigate the trials of high school. I watched you make friends and lose some along the way. I watched you mature and develop your own opinions of life. I was proud of you then.

Now, as we are more “equal” than not, I watch you in a different light. You are older, but in all fairness, so am I. We are not quite peers, but almost. We’ve kept in touch, and I’ve watched you “grow into yourselves.” This has not always been easy. My former role was to help you through your struggles. Stand up to the bullies. Encourage you to be original. My role now is more passive. A quick note to check in. A “like” on a Facebook status. Offer an encouraging word when we see each other. My feelings are the same. I am proud of you.

It is not easy being gay. You have hurdles I can’t even begin to imagine. Every small step… is celebrated. I watched, in silence, as you have – each in your own right – become open about your sexuality and become activists in your own right. It is not cool to be the kid on the outside. I have watched, in silence, as people have written words that must hurt. I have watched, in silence, as people have shifted their alliances around. I have watched – you stand firm. I am so proud.

It makes no difference to me if you are gay or not. That is not really what this post is about. It matters that you have the ability to stand tall. Even when what you are doing is not the “cool” thing to do. Even when people remind you that you are not yet accepted by all… You. Are. Just. You.

You make me very proud. Those who don’t care what is cool. Those who stand tall. Very Proud…

Thanks Shell… For the chance to write the post of my heart.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: I've Got an Opinion on Everything, Letter

Is it really a sacrifice if you do it for LOVE?

February 26, 2012 By Kristen 28 Comments

Tomorrow – I will write about our time away. I promise! But – today, I’m going to write a post prompted by an intriguing e-mail.

The sacrifices we make.

I know many people have read our posts while we were at 4 paws and questioned if we made the right decision.

I’m not going to lie. The training was intense and we do have hurdles to overcome. We must continue to foster the bond between Alexander and Mixie – while not hurting Andrew and Addison. And maintaining order with a puppy. A puppy!!! What were we thinking?!?!I

We were thinking this: If Alexander seizes for hours, at his size, and we miss it – he will probably not survive. His deletion is large. In my heart, I believe this contributes to his uncontrollable seizures. (I have no scientific evidence to back this up – only a gut instinct.) Either way… 4, 5, 6 hour seizures – WITH MEDICINE – leaves you to ask the hard question: What would happen if he started seizing and didn’t get medicine. We don’t want to be a statistic.

Everyone has priorities.

- Some people live in a big house. I love going in those houses…. They have space for people to gather, socialize, nothing looks cluttered… bedrooms are bigger than our family living space. *sigh* Could we have those things? Possibly

- Some people spoil their children. They go to Disney and take multiple vacations and have the newest and coolest toys. I don’t say this with malice… What toys children have is none of my business and I don’t care. My kids get things from second hand stores and yard sales. Craig’s list is my best friend.

- Some people buy “adult toys.” They get new electronics and gadgets. They have big screen TV’s, new computers, the coolest new phones, etc. Some people get new cars every few years. We drive a 2002 Nissan Sentra and a Dodge Grand Caravan. Not exactly the coolest cars ever.

- Some people buy new clothes, get their hair done, nails done, eyebrows waxed, etc. on a regular basis. I do not own a pair of pants without holes in them. Truth. I usually end up with something close to a uni-brow before I go in to get them waxed (painfully when you have more hair to wax than leave behind.) **Sigh – I don’t shop the “amazing deals” at Kohl’s, because they are still more money than I want to spend.

- Some people have passions of their heart. I know several families who feel convicted to adopt children who need a home. They sacrifice in order to pursue that dream. I know others who have other passions. I own a pottery wheel (from my former life) that sits collecting dust. I used to love to mold things with clay.

- I just quit my job. We gave up 1/2 our income. I honestly don’t know if we can pay our bills on 1/2 the income, but we are going to try our darndest. Think of all the things we could provide for our children with 2 incomes. My presence at home is worth more than that.

We all make sacrifices. I could continue to work… and we could provide more for our children – our family. I could have clothes without holes. We could take more vacations. We could drive a car with less than 100,000 miles on it. (Ok. The van is just under 100,000) – but you get the drift.

We could have NOT gone to Ohio to get Mixie. I would have more time to blog and less time to “train” a dog. I wouldn’t have the worries about bonding with the twins versus Alexander. I wouldn’t have had to do an emergency child/puppy proof my house first thing this morning at super lightening speed.

Priorities. The life of my children. The life of my son. It is worth it to us. You may not understand it. I don’t expect you to. Until you’ve raced to the nearest hospital following a medical helicopter with your son in it, I don’t really expect you to get it. Until you’ve held his hand and prayed for him to “break” out of it, I don’t expect you to totally get it.

We are all parents here – struggling to do the best we can.

Priorities. The happiness of my children. All of my children. It is worth it to us. There are things we do around here. We buy fish and pretend they will learn tricks like Mixie. We take them with us to stay in a small hotel room … because there are too many times they are left out of things. I don’t quite expect people to understand. Unless they’ve repeatedly watched the faces fall when so many things seem to be “for their brother,” how can people really get it?

Will my kids realize the sacrifices we’ve made for their health and happiness? Part of me hopes so. A bigger part of me hopes not. Because they aren’t really sacrifices. They are a re-arrangement of priorities. I don’t know that you can call these things sacrifices when they are done for LOVE.

All parents do it. Find the trade off between priorities. I don’t question other parent’s priorities. Please don’t question ours. I feel, now that we have traveled down this journey of blogging – we have opened up ourselves to be judged. However – in the same respect, I blog honestly because life isn’t always easy. Why would I tell families that getting a service dog is as easy as 1-2-3? Why would I gloss over some of our struggles to paint a picture that isn’t … us? What is the point of blogging? To let others know they are not alone?

That doesn’t mean we regret our decision. The health and happiness of my children. Priorities. Sacrifices made from love…. that mean – they really aren’t sacrifices, more like trading. And I would trade the world to have 3 children live to adulthood and be filled with love. So – there you have it.

What do you “trade” for your family? Do you think they are sacrifices?

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Battling the Demons Within, I've Got an Opinion on Everything, Our Happy Place, Parenting

Human Rights, Going Viral, and What Next?

January 14, 2012 By Kristen 48 Comments

Well… we went viral yesterday. It was an unbelievable experience. I wrote THIS POST about our friend Mia. I wrote it because Mia’s mom, Chrissy, shared her story. After a devastating visit to CHOP (Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia) earlier this week, she wrote about it HERE. (Her words are better than anything I could ever say.)

I spoke to Chrissy this morning. We discussed many things, and it is with her blessing that I write the post of my heart.

1. There have been several people who have asked “What is MIA able to do?” “What is her quality of life right now? For people removed from the special needs community, this might seem like a reasonable question. But, anyone who knows anyone with a disability will tell you – that question doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t. My son – whom many of you read about on a regular basis – is 20 months old. His peers walk, talk, eat… I know, we have a nephew a month younger than Alexander. Alexander does none of these things.

Does that make him less of a person? Does that mean he will never? Does that mean he should be denied medical treatment?

Many children with Wolfhirschhorn Syndrome have significant delays. G-tubes are a regular sight at our gatherings. I personally, have a love hate relationship with the G-tube. I hate that Alexander has it, but know it has saved his life many times. However, he is learning to eat. He is learning to be “vocal.” He is bearing weight on his legs. I know a lot of children with WHS that walk, talk, and eat. Often our syndrome is associated with Down Syndrome because some of the “classic issues” are similar. Some children have more delays and some have less.

Here is the thing. It shouldn’t matter What any child is able to do at this point. It just doesn’t matter. Alexander is my child, I love him, and I take care of his needs. Mia is the same. It doesn’t matter what she can or cannot do – so that is why I’m not even addressing what Mia “can” do. Because it just doesn’t make a difference All children deserve the right to life.

What if it was your child. It could be. Count yourself lucky if you have never had to fight for your child’s right to live. I have… and it stinks.

2. There has been a lot of speculation weather or not this story is real. I am the most skeptical person around. If I read this on the internet, I would probably question it also. Except – I know it is true. Mia is a real child. Her parents are real. Her siblings are real. I know them. I’ve heard her mom’s tears. They are not people who would “make a story up.” And… if you read through the comments on CHOP’s Facebook page – I have seen other parents already reply they have been told similar things by doctors. I have been told similar things. Before Alexander was released from the NICU, my husband and I asked the doctors (At Pinnacle Health in Harrisburg) what to do if Alexander had a seizure or other medical issue. A well meaning doctor held my hand, looked me in the eyes, and said, “let him pass in peace.” I also posted in February about visiting a GI doctor who refused to help us put weight on Alexander because, “I could help you, but then you will just have a FAT baby to lug around until he dies.”

Two years ago, if you searched Wolfhirschhorn Syndrome on Google, you found these awful stories. Terrible accounts of people with disabilities from case studies done in the dark ages. One of the reasons WolfHirschhorn.org was founded was to tell the real story. The stories of children who walk, talk, play, love, yell (as Alexander is doing now), and … did I mention love? The real story is getting out, but not fast enough. Mia is the ultimate example of people who place value on life based on your contribution to the world. So if you don’t become a rocket scientist, you don’t have value?

If you want to learn more about Mia… to better understand HER… you can find old stories and videos they have posted. Here are some links you can browse if you are still skeptical.

Video of Accepting Mia as she is

If you go to Wolfhirschhorn.org (our stories) on the left: Amelia = 16 posts about her.

3. Lastly, no one expected this story to blow up the way it has. Chrissy is in complete shock. One of the biggest questions asked is, “what can we do to help?” You can post on CHOP’s Facebook page. HERE. You can e-mail anyone you know who has any connections to ANY ONE. You can share this story through social media outlets like twitter and Facebook. You can “link in” to this story. You can Share it with your friends. You can sign the petition for Mia found HERE. You can follow #TeamAmelia and #Lifeformia on twitter. And tag any posts you write about her story. You can read other blogs.

If you have written a blog or article about Mia’s story, please leave a link in the comments section so others can find it.

If you have found an article or blog about Mia’s story, please leave a link in the comments section so others can find it.

If you have suggestions on how to spread the word, please comment… we really don’t know what we are doing!

Our biggest fear is that CHOP will attempt to “wait out” the long weekend in hopes that things die down and people forget. Please don’t let them forget. Continue to spread the word.

Remember… this could be any child. This could be your child.