Hello friends!
It's hard to believe that our daughter Braelyn’s 4th birthday is quickly approaching. Each year on her birthday we like to do something to pay it forward in her memory. This year we have chosen to donate toys and craft supplies to the St. Jude clinic in Peoria.
Over the course of this year, the St. Jude clinic has become a part of our lives. When Clay needed to be diagnosed and monitored for an issue with his liver, we were sent to St. Jude’s. I have to admit that it was very scary to take our then 4 month old baby to a place widely known for helping very sick kids. While we thank God every day that Clay is healthy and thriving, there are other children who spend many days, weeks, and months in this hospital.
We've been to the clinic several times this year and each time it just amazes me. When you walk through the doors it’s like this magical place. Everyone there is so incredibly nice and helpful and you can tell that each person absolutely loves their work. Every child is made to feel like they are so special and the staff all really gets to know them and what they are going through. Central IL is so lucky to have a place like this!
Matt & I plan to take the boys shopping to pick out items that we can donate. Our plan is to drive over to Peoria on October 7th (Braelyn's birthday) to deliver them. I am choosing to share this on social media in hopes that if anyone else felt compelled to make a donation in Braelyn's name we could really make a difference to these children who are battling health issues on a daily basis.
There are stipulations around what items can be donated. I have a list available of items that they have a high demand for and if you are interested in participating please let me know and I can share the list with you. Or if you prefer to donate money, I don't mind doing the shopping for you!
I want to thank so many of our friends and family for continuing to support us throughout the last 4 years. It means a lot that Braelyn's name is not forgotten and each year we can celebrate the good that she brought into the world.
