Monday, April 25, 2011

Media

So immensely grateful for writer Natalie Draney and her article she wrote for the Salt Lake Tribune about our Run for Hope. It turned out beautifully, and I am so excited for the possibilities this brings to our little event.  Hooray for Good People!
Click here to read the online version of the article.

And, register today!  We are counting the days (less than three weeks)...

Friday, April 22, 2011

Winner, Winner.

Each participant, walkers, runners or hoppers (that would be Deak) on race day, will receive a "Raffle Ticket" tear off on the bottom of their bib. 
This is super important.
Important, because we have a couple awesome prizes.

Thanks to a very generous donor and great friend to my dad, Chris Conabee with Paladin Partners, we are able to give two very lucky raffle winners Summer Weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) stays at the amazing Silver Star Condos and Resort in Park City. 




I've been able to stay there a couple of times with my family, and it is fabulous. It is my 8 year old daughter's favorite place in the world.


*Pictures taken during our weekend at Silver Star this past Fall.  We don't look happy at all, do we?*

Good luck!

By the way, three weeks? How did this race get here so fast?  I am so excited, and cannot believe the amount of love we are receiving.  My goal of 200 participants, which I originally thought to be quite lofty, is in our clear future.  Spread the word, encourage friends, and get up a little early on a Saturday morning giving of yourself for others. 
We are so excited to see you!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Dreams.

We all have dreams.
The moment the pregnancy test reads "positive," visions of the child we are carrying begin permeating our thoughts and making their way into our hearts.
We fall in love with this little peanut we cannot feel long before our belly shows signs of new life.

It was not different with Deak.
I had dreams.
Dreams of a little blond haired boy playing shortstop (because I never could) and catching touchdown passes. I felt the emotions; how it might feel to sit in the bleachers and proudly exclaim, "That's MY boy."

I learned to modify my dreams, but that process was not easy.
When we were told Deakon would not live, the pain that I endured is nearly incomprehensible to recall. It penetrated my heart so deeply, that I did not know if I could recover.
But, I did recover, and I allowed hope to prevail.
I learned that hope was a choice.
And, I choose to create a world of opportunity for my son.

Deak is working really hard on balance while standing unassisted at physical therapy.  He is doing amazing.  Yesterday, Lisa (Deak's wonderful therapist), in an effort to encourage balance, retrieved a plastic tee, bat and ball.  She was a little unsure as to whether or not Deak would enjoy the activity.

He loved it. 
Every single second. In fact, when the game ended, he crawled over to the ball across the room, brought it back to the tee, tried to place it on top, and grabbed the bat again.

My heart stood still.

Although my dreams have been twisted and turned around a bit, I have grown to understand that they are real, and they are possible.  Watching my Deak hit a ball, something that 4 and 5 year old boys do daily this time of year, is not something I take for granted.

It is a dream that the world attempted to take away from me.
A dream fulfilled.

Let this boy touch your life.
Register today to walk and run with us May 14, 2011.
Details above:)

Friday, April 15, 2011

I like easy.

Awesome news.
We have now created an online contribution option for "Spirit Runners" via runnercard and the same site used to register "Live Runners."
Click on this link here, or check out our Spirit Runner Tab above, and register today. 
So far, our Spirit Runners have made a strong showing; it has been amazing. I have a feeling we all may have a little extra "push" from some amazing spirited friends as we walk and run together on May 14th.

Literally, 3 minutes of your time and a few bucks can help save the life of another sweetheart like my Deak.
No printing, mailing or stamping.
What an easy way to make a difference.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Happiest Place on Earth.

That's where we just returned from, and my Deak loved it.
His Favorites:  Buzz Lightyear, Nemo Submarine and the Disney Junior Show.
My Favorite: This happy face.

My not so favorite:  An emergency hospital visit for an unexpected and severe corneal abrasion for Deak's left eye.  (He is recovering and hopefully will be back to himself soon). I am thankful for good doctors at good Children's Hospitals, even out of state.

Less than five weeks!
Ah!!
I am feeling the stress, and keep having a recurring nightmare that race day comes and either I oversleep or no one comes.  To say that I am anxious, would be an understatement:)  But, knowing how much support I have already felt and have, I have a feeling my "happiest place on earth" will come the morning of May 14th.

Register today!
T-shirt designs are being finalized as I type, and I will be placing orders soon.
Via Mail, or Online (*Links Above*)
Hope you all had a wonderful "break."
Love,
Jenny

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Six Weeks.

Wow.
Six Weeks.
May 14th will be here before I can even blink my eyes.
So much to do, so much to hope for.

We've been reminded in our house recently just how desperately important funding for research is to the life of our sweet Deak.
He is okay, but has had a couple of health setbacks recently. 
As I mentioned on my family blog, there is nothing like the possibility of neurosurgery to help get one's priorities immediately put into check.
We don't know details yet, but are hopeful that if the decision is made that Deakon will need surgery, the surgery will help his legs gain the strength they need to walk on their own.
We have hope those cute little legs will.
In fact, I'd say we know they will.

And, you can help.

Please join us with your healthy legs May 14th.  Registration is open via mail or online, and register early to guarantee t-shirt preference.

(Deak minus curls, thinking his big sister Abby is pretty funny.)