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- My son Blake was in Medical City Dallas again last week for his 3rd surgery in the past
month. Blake one 9 surgeries now. As we arrived last week for his port surgery, he found Mr. Turtle waiting on his bed.
Blake was so excited to see this special friend. In all the surgeries and hospitalizations its receiving specials gifts
like these that touch his heart and give him something to snuggle in those terrifying moments.
*Our son was born
with a congenital heart defect (a couple, actually)and was transported to Medical City Dallas Children's Hospital when he
was 5 days old (12/8/08). He's had two open heart surgeries since
then, but is doing great now (one more is in his future-
we hope in MANY MANY years from now!). He spent lots of time in the NICU and we recently had the privilege of going to the
annual NICU reunion. Well,
as we strolled him through the doors, a clown met us and promptly handed him a kooky-looking
Disney animal. He grinned and I was scratching my head wondering what in the world it was. I saw a tag on it so I wanted to
see what it said. When I read that it was from Adam's Animals, I felt very honored. Honestly, I felt like we should take it
to someone who really "needed" it at the time! Our son was doing great, after all.
Let me go back to the part about
feeling honored. I didn't know Adam, though I heard about him while interpreting at Vines High School one year in Mrs. Holland's
class. It was Intro to Theatre and she was
talking to the kids about a service project. I never really got to learn a
lot about Adam, but I could tell through her tears and the twinkle in her eye as she talked about what a great kid he was
(and student/actor), that he was really special. The project was collecting stuffed animals for Adam's Animals. Fast forward
about 5 years and here we were, holding one of them in our hands.
*Adam was a friend of mine at Plano Senior High.
Although I only knew him a short time through my junior and senior years I will always remember him as a warm, loving soul
and an amazing thespian. I often think of his wonderful sense of humor and kindness to everyone he would come across.
My four month old son, Cole, was also touched by Adam over Memorial Day Weekend this year in 2008. He was admitted into
the Pediatric ICU at Medical City Children's Hospital for Aparent Life Threatening Events. The beautiful teddy bear was snuggled
up to Cole all day and night while he was being constantly watched, monitored, and tested.
I know Adam's beam of
light continues to shine over Cole every day and night. Thank you so much for allowing my little one to be touched by Adam
in the way that I remember him . . . with hope and a smile.
- My 4 year old daughter Megan was
at the Medical Center of Plano yesterday for a brain MRI. While we waited, she was quite anxious about the procedure, IV,
blood draws, etc. The nurse left the room and came back with a fluffy purple Heffalump from Adam’s Animals. Her eyes lit
up and she was so happy to meet her new “hospital friend”. It also enabled the nurse to get all the info she needed and get
Megan’s IV started without incident.
Her new friend has not left her side. She slept with her new “hospital friend”
last night and brought it everywhere today to show all her friends what she got at the hospital.
Your gift made a
scary situation so much more comfortable for Megan, and for me to see her calm down a bit, made me feel more at ease also.
Thank you so much for honoring your son in a way that affects so many children and their families.
Thank you,
- Thank
you so much for the bears you brought to Medical city of Dallas. Our two year old daughter Olivia has been in the hospital
for the last 11 days with RSV. We kept hoping that she would be home for Christmas, but she was not. Her older sisters Sarah
and Camaryn went to visit Santa. While they were there, Sarah told Santa that Olivia might be in the hospital when he delivers
gifts. She told him that Olivia wanted a bear. We were not sure Santa would be able to grant her wish since it was last
minute. One of my friends went to get a bear so Olivia would have one, but it would have been from Daddy and I. Much to our
surprise on Christmas morning there was a bear and a bag full of toys from Santa. Olivia loves the bear and her sisters are
thankful that Santa went to the hospital. Our family wants to thank you for your work. You helped make our Christmas in
a bad situation great. The generosity of the people who have donated bears touches so many hearts. Thank you for touching
ours.
Warmly,
- Hi! Just wanted you to know what joy your brought to my 6 yr old son, Andrew. He's
in Medical City Dallas with leukemia and undergoing chemo. We'll be in at Christmastime too for a bone marrow transplant.
Thank you for thinking of us. He's been cuddled up with "Max" since he got him. Max is a big, soft, furry dog that has been
a pillow most of the week. Thank you again! Love, Julie
- After nearly 15 years with Adam, it’s hard to pick
out a single memory; there are simply too many. I loved Adam fiercely (as proven by our many spats over the years) and I continue
to remember him literally all the time. No better tribute than Adam’s Animals could exist as remembrance for this boy who
was so full of love, humor and playfulness. Adam made all of us smile, in fact, I’m smiling right now.
Heather Hill
- I
actually have a picture of Adam, and others from the 5th grade Reunion, up in my cubicle at work. He not only has reminded
me to enjoy life as it is short, but laugh at it! With Adam being a neighbor, there are many years of memories that I keep
with me. The one that has meant the most to me throughout the years was from our Senior Year. It was during finals week,
and there were a number of the guys that we going to breakfast as they didnt have an exam. I was invited by one of them,
Keith Neagle, to join. It was supposed to be a "guys only" breakfast, and a couple of the others were visible irritated that
I, a girl, was invited. Adam made a comment that made me feel welcome and included, and put the others at ease. He has taught
me much in life, and I continually thank Heavenly Father for putting good friends like Adam in my path.
- Thanks again,
Lisa Midgley
- I have been thinking of you all and am praying for peace and joyful memories. Thanks again for
sharing your wonderful son with us--what a fitting tribute to Adam--to continue to bring smiles and joy to others through
Adam's Animals. You are both very special people to honor your son in this way and to look beyond your own pain to try and
bring joy to someone else's child. Take care of yourselves, and know if you need me--I am here. :}
- Deb Echtenkamp - North
Texas Hospital for Children
- On behalf of our team, would you please tell Adam's family how much Adam's
Animals mean to our transport patients and families. I can't count how many times the animals have saved our nurses on transport.
So many of the children we transport are scared and to see their faces light up when we give them a new stuffed animal is
precious! Their new "friend" helps to give them an added sense of security in a scary environment. Thank you for all of our
team!
- Amy B. Hall, RN, BSN, CCRN - North Texas Hospital for Children Transport Team - Medical City Dallas Hospital
- Adam
had a way about him that could make you smile on your darkest days. He use to tell his fellow classmates that he could do
anything and I would not fuss at him...not true but he knew that he had a special place in my heart. And for that I am grateful.
Adam is continuing to make people smile and remember him fondly. :)
- Thanks, Spruce Haley
- There are
so many memories that I have about Adam...most of which involve laughing, sometimes with him, usually at him...bottom line
he loved life and he lived it to the fullest. Anytime a smile is needed a memory of Adam will usually do the trick.
-
Chad Hurst - December 2004 - Adam's Brother
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