Imagine your child is sick. Some of you may not have to imagine. Only once, briefly, I experienced having a sick child. My son Jacob was in the hospital for a week, he had a raging fever and no other symptoms. He was barely 2 years old, and unable to comprehend why he was in a small room, unable to interact with anyone other than the masked staff who poked and prodded at him. It was scary for me, and I am sure even more terrifying for him.
My son got better, life went on. My children are all healthy and even the common cold seems to come around less often.
Our biggest complaint as parents seems to have to do with feeling overwhelmed, with work, school, activities and whatever else occupies our time. Children are challenging and most of time oblivious to the hurdles that we face in our daily lives.
Now, as I said before imagine your child is sick. Really sick. Not the cold and sneeze kind of sick, but the live in a hospital kind of sick.
I would assume that you would be less overwhelmed by work, school and activities. Those things would no longer exist. You would be consumed by one thing, getting your child better. What if that wasn't possible? What would be your next wish for your child? Happiness. Oblivion, the idea that what was really happening, wasn't.
You may think I'm a jerk for bringing this up. Its uncomfortable. Why would anyone want to think about their child being sick? Any child being sick for that matter.
I'm talking about this because of my amazing brother, James. Luckily he is not sick, however he works at a place whose mission is to give sick children the opportunity to enjoy life, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is an amazing place that every sick child deserves to experience.
My brother first told me about this place this past summer on a camping trip. He was excited and proud of what he was doing. Anyone who knows my brother James, knows that he works best with children. He's funny, daring, brave, and can literally imitate almost any television or movie character to a T! Listening to him talk about The Whole in the Wall Gang Camp was exhilarating, it sounded like a genuinely enjoyable place and for a moment I forgot about why the children were there, or at least what was wrong with the children there. My brother didn't talk about how sick they were, he spoke about their unique personalities, their normal child like behavior, their off the wall antics, and without saying it his love for them.
I have thought about my brothers job off and on for a few months. When anybody asks about him, I reel in the opportunity to speak highly of his position. Ironically he and I usually tend to give each other a pretty hard time. Mostly because I'm cooler than him. Regardless, I am beyond words proud of him.
James is now trying to raise money for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp via running in the
Boston Marathon next year. I donated a small amount towards his cause. I know it isn't enough, and this has weighed heavy on me for days.
This morning when I walked my son Jacob to his classroom I noticed the lights were off. I went to the room next door and a woman inside said that Jacobs teacher was out sick, she would be substituting. I have never seen this woman before. She wasn't as warm as Jacob's usual teacher, and her voice was a bit harsh. I felt like she was rushing me out of the room. My brother James had mailed "Hole in the Wall Camp" stickers and all of my kids wanted to wear one to school today, even Jacob. The teacher looked down at Jacob's shirt and asked what the sticker was for. I began to explain that my brother worked at a camp for seriously ill children. She nonchalantly said "Oh we do a fundraiser every year for my son who died of cancer". I was speechless. I immediately felt horrible that I misread her, I of course have no idea when her son died but my heart still hurt for her as if it just happened. I immediately wondered if he had moments of happiness while he was sick. I literally cannot stop thinking about The Whole in the Wall Gang Camp.
The first thing that came to mind was to blog about it...this isn't my typical "mommy post" but it is by far the most important one I have ever written.
So here is my plea, if you have a healthy child, or know a healthy child please donate to my brothers cause. http://www.crowdrise.com/teamholeinthewallboston/fundraiser/jamessibelle
If you have a sick child or know a sick child I hope that they will be able to benefit from this wonderful place.
Sometimes the best medicine is happiness, and in this case your donation can buy some more than deserving children that much needed happiness.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you will share this with others.
