See us running and hugging and freaking out a little? …crazy joy smiles on our faces?
Today, that’s what we’re doing because 1) our miracle boy turned 12 years old yesterday, and 2) because you put together the MOST AMAZING action in the last two days.
In less than 48 hours, the Chase Away Cancer community and friends gathered OVER $13,000 for Lurie Children’s Hospital and the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation in honor of Chase’s 12 years!
You guys!
YOU DID IT!!!!!
I wish you could have heard the gasp Chase let out when I told him the news.
Dear ones… this was a VERY GOOD THING that happened this weekend.
Last night, I was reflecting on the start of Chase’s life. Perhaps some of you have seen this before, but this (above) is the first photo I have of Chase and with Chase. This picture never stops being amazing to me because he came so fast and was placed on my chest so fast with such a deep scream that I actually watched life flow into him, turning him pink.
Can you see it?
Can you see who he is today in this tiny scrap of human in my arms?
Another reason I never stop being amazed at this picture is because I had absolutely no idea what lay ahead of us and how many miracles lay in store for this sweet, unexpected life. I had no idea how much I’d cry… or laugh…
Did you know that Chase was born 12 months and 5 days after his older brother? To say he was a surprise to us would be an understatement, and yet, it underscores something I know with my whole heart… Chase was meant to be on this earth.
He followed fast on brother’s heals.
He came fast and screaming into the world.
He hasn’t stopped fighting since.
And this is one of his personal favorite pictures because I’m in a hospital bed with nurses and gloves and masks around me…and there was an IV in my hand. And so I reflected on these picture things last night, as I wrapped presents and prepared for now – this day.
Twelve… It’s so insane to me! I remember the day the doctors told us “Don’t think too far ahead… let’s just try and get him to age three.”
Isn’t life amazing? …and so are you! Yesterday alone, the day before alone, you raised over $7,000 in Chase’s “12 For 12″ fundraiser.
Dear ones, my heart is so full. These dollars will do so much good. Think about this: somewhere this day, a woman like me is holding her baby – like Chase – in her arms for the first time, having no idea how much she’s going to need Lurie Children’s and foundations like ARFF someday. And when she wakes up one day and realizes the need… we will have already been there – doing our best – because Chase turned 12.
Life is precious.
Moment by moment.
[To donate in celebration of Chase or to share with a friend, click THE LINK – thank you!]
ANNOUNCING…. “12 FOR 12” …!! [Chase’s birthday fundraiser]
Can you believe it? By all rights and data, our precious Chase should have never seen a 3rd year, let alone a 12th birthday! Yet, here we are and Chase still lives and breathes joy into our family and the world around him. And on December 12th – 12/12 – he will officially be 12. A golden birthday for a golden boy. He is a miracle and we are so thankful.
This year, Chase had a very special request for his birthday fundraiser (which is running an extra day – so the whole weekend!). He wanted the money equally divided between Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation – two of his absolute favorites.
We can’t think of a more fitting plan! Lurie has brought Chase life more times than we can count, and the Rizzo Foundation has instilled so much hope – and Hope and Life go hand in hand in so many precious ways.
So after much discussion with our Lurie and Rizzo families, THIS PAGE was put together. All the funds will rest there, so we can see a grand total, and then when all is said and done, the Rizzo Family will write a check for half of the total, on Chase’s behalf, to Lurie Children’s – because of YOU, dear ones!
Would you consider making a donation? You can give $12 (or a multiple of 12…or more!) in honor of Chase’s 12 years. Every dollar counts – and it feels like it counts double this year – as the dollars will go to help a child like Chase and a family like ours – often in their most stressful, heartbreaking moments – both in the hospital with Lurie and around the country with ARFF.
With your help, we can contribute to research, resources and encouragement for so many children like Chase.
On behalf of the fighters and families supported by Lurie Children’s Hospital and the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation…
THANK YOU.
**PLEASE feel FREE to share the fundraiser link far and wide!!**
There are rare and wonderful species of joy that flourish only in the rainy atmosphere of suffering.
John Piper
This year, he doubled his digits, and he doubled his diagnoses too.
With his own eyes, he witnessed the celebration of the Super Bowl in Atlanta.
With his own words, he told his story to the Vice President of the United States in Washington.
With his own body, he’s gone swimming and running and laughed and played.
And with that same body, he’s wept and known fear and exhaustion and pain.
He’s had 1 surgery, 2 full body scans and biopsies, and 3 ultrasounds in the pursuit of this, the second cancer. Which means that he’s been under anesthesia close to 10 times this year.
He’s had 1 round of treatment, 2 documented instances of spread/relapse, and what feel like limitless amounts of blood drawn from his body.
He walked back into the world of seizures – for the first time in 7 years – and had to face down the fear of a potential brain cancer relapse.
He’s had MRIs, CTs, and X-Rays to spare.
And if I counted off the days out of the last 365 that he spent in the hospital, they number about 60. …that’s more than once a week.
Those are the days alone. But if I counted the actual appointments, the number would close to triple.
It’s been one of the most extraordinary years of his short life, and so it’s perfectly fitting and perfectly amazing that your response to his year and life was equally extraordinary.
Dear ones, in your celebration of Chase, you raised almost $5,000* in a single day!
You are incredible.
And I love that – because of your many, sacrificial, encouraging, ‘happy birthday’ gifts to the Rizzo Foundation on behalf of Chase – more help will walk the halls of the hospital, more tears will be dried, more smiles will be felt, and more end-of-their-rope parents will be granted more rope and easier breathing in the worst seasons of life.
This is all you, dear ones, and we are so proud of and thankful for your extraordinary response to our extraordinary Chase.
Thank you for faithfully, joyfully, compassionately walking this journey with us…
Moment by moment.
**If you haven’t had a chance to give yet, you’re not too late! Simply click HERE to donate now!**
