So What Are You Doing Saturday Night?

In my last blog post I discussed a foundation that is near and dear to my heart.  The Rainbow Foundation is one of those great organizations that really make a meaningful and lasting impact of the lives of kids in the Monmouth and Ocean county areas.  Visit the web site www.rainbowfoundation.org for more information.

Below is a circumstance where Rainbow would like to help but we need your support:

Please Note:  We have changed the names per the family’s request.  To date we have not been able to provide support but we will be helping shortly.

Hey Eddie,

Where do I begin...

A few years ago this little girl came into our lives and became my daughter Mary’s best friend, soulmate, kindred spirit. Jill and my Mary always played so nicely without judgment or fighting and they displayed unconditional love for one another.  One day Mary asked "Can I wear a wig like Jill today, mommy?" because Jill would always wear a flame red Ariel wig and Mary thought it was the coolest thing.  That is how she knew Jill for a few months before Jill took her wig off in front of her and Mary noticed that she was bald.  Amazingly Mary did not even look at her funny or say anything about it, they just continued to play like nothing happened.  When we came home that night Mary asked me "Why does Jill not have hair?" I explained to her that Jill has to take medicine to help her body fight an illness and it makes her hair fall out.  I then asked her how she felt about it and she responds with "It's ok if she doesn't have hair.  She is beautiful, my best friend, and I love her." That was when the girls were 4 years old.  

Jill is a 6 year old amazing little lady that is diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer.  She has a very progressive case and it has spread to various spots on her body (liver, spine, scalp, etc.) and has been very responsive to treatments recently.  She is in and out of the hospital receiving chemo, radiation, cell therapy, blood transfusions, scans, and clinical trials.  Jill has been through more in her 6 years of life than I have seen in my 34.  Her family has been through so much heart ache and joy, unfortunately more heart ache, in the past several years.  Her father, Rich, is the bread winner in the family.  Her mother cannot work because she has to care for Jill.  Jill has a brother Michael, who is receiving therapy because he is struggling with all of the turmoil as well.  Jill's grandfather drives to New Jersey to pick up Jill and Debbie to take them to Sloan in the city for treatments several times a month.  This is taxing on everyone, yet no one would do differently for Jill. 

Jill and Mary started Kindergarten this past September.  The school made sure the girls were in the same class to help Jill feel comfortable when she is out for long periods.  On the first day of school Jill was nervous as she was wearing a new "normal" wig (not the flame red she was used to) and she was afraid of what the kids were going to say if her wig fell off.  Mary held Jill's hand as they walked into the classroom together just so she would feel comfortable.  She has missed 75% of the school year because of cancer.  It is just unfair.

I would do anything for this little girl and her family, but what would help? That's when I thought about you and Rainbow Foundation. If there is anything that we can do together to help this family please let me know. It is unfortunate when bad things happen to good people, but it's always better when there are good people to help out. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

On Saturday, June 23, 2012 Rainbow will be holding a Texas Hold’em Tournament at the Red Oak diner in Hazlet NJ.  Proceeds of this event will benefit families in need.  Please consider coming out for a great evening and support a great cause. 

Thank You!