Of Good and Thankful Things

On Thursday, December 12, 2024… Chase turns 15! He loves to know the exact time of his birth (3:27PM, CST), and he’s been going around and telling everyone that right at the time that the buses leave all the grade schools, he will reach the moment he turns 15. I know this because even the teachers in the high school have mentioned it to me. Oh Chase… 🙂

15 years on this earth… Isn’t that an incredible miracle?!

As always, his birthday request remains that we raise funds to be equally divided between the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation and Lurie Children’s Hospital (specifically: the Pediatric Brain Tumor Program) . 

We, as his family, can’t think of a more fitting plan. Lurie has gifted Chase life and the Rizzo Foundation has instilled hope – Hope and Life – together.

Would you consider donating here? The link will take you to a GoFundMe page called “15×15” and you can give $15 for Chase’s 15 years or a multiple of 15…or more!

HeyTHANK YOU.

Every dollar counts, and this year, it feels like it counts double 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 the Lurie Pediatric Brain Tumor Program and around the country with the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation.

As we celebrate the gift of Chase’s incredible 15 years, with your help, we can contribute to research, resources, and encouragement for so many children like Chase.

Thank you for doing this with us… Moment by moment.

Hey, again, just a quick note…. Maybe this isn’t your year to give… I get it. It’s been a year, but there is another way you can help. The link, pictures, and updates will be posted on Chase Away Cancer on Facebook and Instagram and I’d so appreciate if you could share the joy and help us get the word out. Thank you, dear ones.

*images courtesy of Margaret Henry*

On Being An Ambassador

Summing up a whole year is often like visiting a medical office for me: a dreaded, but sometimes necessary exercise.  I hate the action of listing it all out because it can be so trite to gloss over and wrap up, but as soon as I start, all the painful, awful, funny, perfect, and wondrous things that have passed start washing over me and I never regret the exercise.  One of the most amazing aspects of this last year has been Chase’s role as a national ambassador for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, and this morning, in the last of the 8,760 hours of ambassadorship, we sat down early to reminisce over some of the opportunities: shaving his brother’s head, going into schools to meet with children and talk about cancer and chemo, getting to connect with so many people on something that has shaped us on such a significant level – to name just a few. 

Memory is hard for Chase and he slumped down in the chair as I asked him what his favorite part of the ambassador year has been. “Can’t I just say that I love Dr. Lulla? He’s my favorite. Can I just say that?”

Chase with Dr. Rishi Lulla, a St. Baldrick's researcher and Chase's attending neuro-oncologist at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
Chase with Dr. Rishi Lulla, a St. Baldrick’s researcher and Chase’s attending neuro-oncologist at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Photo credit: Jan Terry

“What about the time you made Aidan bald?” I laughed.

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He slumped further. “Please don’t laugh about being bald. It hurts me.”

Reaching over, I picked him up and hugging him close, I explained that my laughter stemmed from his and Aidan’s precious hearts for each other, not their lack of hair. Never the lack of hair.

Photo credit: Heidi Peters Photography
Photo credit: Heidi Peters Photography

And then he settled into it. “I did like shaving Aidy’s head. That was fun. And I really liked doing the Pin Guard tournament with Miss Jen at school with the firemen. And I think I liked whenever they gave me a microphone to talk to kids too. Those were my favorites.” He stopped and thought for one minute more, and than as is his habit, he interrupted his own musings. “Also, I think that . . . Hey, Mom! I have a great idea! I want to make cards for kids who have cancer and chemo like me! The next time we go to my hospital, can I take cards to my friends like my Mia and my Lucas?”

And with that, the time for memories were over.  But isn’t this the point of sharing our stories? Of being an ambassador? Reflection that leads to action. For Chase, in this moment, it was wanting to encourage other kids.  And over this past year, as more and more have looked to encourage and action has been taken – from grade schoolers growing out their hair all the way to a US Congressman signing the STAR Act – thousands upon thousands of dollars have gone to change the outcomes.  This is amazing!

Talking about St. Baldrick's at Madison Elementary
Talking about St. Baldrick’s at Madison Elementary

As 2015 comes to a close, we acknowledge the hard things that have brought us to this point, revel in the joy that keeps us going, are deeply thankful for all the ones around us, and look expectantly to 2016 for all that it will hold.

A huge thank you to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for letting us help carry your message this year.

Photo credit: Heidi Peters Photography
Photo credit: Heidi Peters Photography

Chase’s Story [VIDEO]

Have you ever seen this video of Chase?

If not, I highly recommend it.  And even if so, feel free to watch it again…  We have been so blessed to partner with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation this year and are continually thankful for the platform they give us to share Chase’s story with so many.

-MbM-

[Our deepest gratitude to the incomparable Matthew Lackey for his mad, crazy video skills.  Also, a huge thank you to both Jane Hoppen and Kristen Thies for all they did to put together the finished product and the time spent filming it.]