Kidz Corner
By Gina Gippner
A quick story…
n June 1, 2009, I got up and went to (what I thought would be) a simple doctor's appointment. On June 2nd, I found myself in an unfamiliar place, having to have an ultrasound. Not knowing what the outcome would be. I decided I would allow myself to enjoy the journey. Whatever may come... I'll accept!
On June 9th I received a phone call from my doctor sharing the news that I was to see an Oncologist. It wasn't what I wanted to hear, but knowing that I had promised myself I would accept whatever may come... I made my appointment, and decided to enjoy the rest of my day. What a wonderful day that was. On July 25th, I found myself, again... in an unfamiliar place. I was placed in a tube, dye was inserted into my body, and a doctor would look beneath my skin to see what was to come next!
On July 28th, I was told that only surgery will give me the answers the doctors and I are seeking, and within a matter of days I will find out whatever may come! I have to share this has truly been the best experience I have ever had. Being that I design and manufacture comfort toys for children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, I've been able to experience (first hand) what the more than 20 million children (per year) go through daily. They each wake up wondering... what may become of their day! Out of those 20 million children there are 8 million children who go through this ALONE. They have no family or friends who are able to be with them.
No one to personally bring them their gift of a comfort or simply sit with them as they recover.
I’ve also realized that there's nothing better than being given the gift of a childhood. When I was a child I used to love watching the movie, The Wizard of Oz. The movie is simple. About a little girl name Dorothy, who lived on a farm with her uncle and aunt; but dreamed of a better place, "somewhere over the rainbow". But after a dream, she quickly learns... there's no place like home! I believe that's what I've learned too.
We might think the world has something better for us, but when we are finally face-to-face with adversity what we truly learn is, There IS no place like home. I feel like I finally understand why each of us follows our "Yellow Brick Roads". We each have a different road to take, and now is the time I need to reach out and find others who will help me give gifts of comfort to children who are looking:
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. Someday I'll wish upon a star, and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me. Somewhere over the rainbow, Bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow. Why then, oh why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow... Why, oh why can't I? Now, will you be the Tin Man, The Lion or the Scarecrow? Because it takes many friends to reach our destination!
I have been designing and manufacturing comfort toys for children who are terminally ill for nearly two decades. I have joined hands with Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and they are in need of 1,000 toys per month. Yes, that is how many new patients a month just one hospital sees. As soon as I can find monthly donors for the children at CHLA I will venture out (with the help of many) to the other 170 Children’s Hospitals across the United States, but I have to be able to meet the needs of just “one” before I can do that.
In a few days I will be heading to Loma Linda University to meet my fate. It’s amazing when one is told that they have a Tumor, and what the outcome will be is unknown. All of a sudden I feel the strength to reach beyond my wildest dreams to ask the best-of –the –best people I know to help me. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I know that no matter what happens to me… there will still be children who go through this daily, and will wake up searching, Somewhere over their Rainbow.
Will you help me TODAY: You can log onto: www.justmom.net or www.justmominc.com to give your gift of comfort. And please share this e-mail with EVERYONE you know.
If you have any questions, please e-mail directly at gina@justmominc.com.
Looking forward to being given the gift of another day, and praying that all the dreams that you dream today… really do come true!
A quick story…
n June 1, 2009, I got up and went to (what I thought would be) a simple doctor's appointment. On June 2nd, I found myself in an unfamiliar place, having to have an ultrasound. Not knowing what the outcome would be. I decided I would allow myself to enjoy the journey. Whatever may come... I'll accept!On June 9th I received a phone call from my doctor sharing the news that I was to see an Oncologist. It wasn't what I wanted to hear, but knowing that I had promised myself I would accept whatever may come... I made my appointment, and decided to enjoy the rest of my day. What a wonderful day that was. On July 25th, I found myself, again... in an unfamiliar place. I was placed in a tube, dye was inserted into my body, and a doctor would look beneath my skin to see what was to come next!
On July 28th, I was told that only surgery will give me the answers the doctors and I are seeking, and within a matter of days I will find out whatever may come! I have to share this has truly been the best experience I have ever had. Being that I design and manufacture comfort toys for children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, I've been able to experience (first hand) what the more than 20 million children (per year) go through daily. They each wake up wondering... what may become of their day! Out of those 20 million children there are 8 million children who go through this ALONE. They have no family or friends who are able to be with them.
No one to personally bring them their gift of a comfort or simply sit with them as they recover.
I’ve also realized that there's nothing better than being given the gift of a childhood. When I was a child I used to love watching the movie, The Wizard of Oz. The movie is simple. About a little girl name Dorothy, who lived on a farm with her uncle and aunt; but dreamed of a better place, "somewhere over the rainbow". But after a dream, she quickly learns... there's no place like home! I believe that's what I've learned too.
We might think the world has something better for us, but when we are finally face-to-face with adversity what we truly learn is, There IS no place like home. I feel like I finally understand why each of us follows our "Yellow Brick Roads". We each have a different road to take, and now is the time I need to reach out and find others who will help me give gifts of comfort to children who are looking:
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. Someday I'll wish upon a star, and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me. Somewhere over the rainbow, Bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow. Why then, oh why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow... Why, oh why can't I? Now, will you be the Tin Man, The Lion or the Scarecrow? Because it takes many friends to reach our destination!
I have been designing and manufacturing comfort toys for children who are terminally ill for nearly two decades. I have joined hands with Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and they are in need of 1,000 toys per month. Yes, that is how many new patients a month just one hospital sees. As soon as I can find monthly donors for the children at CHLA I will venture out (with the help of many) to the other 170 Children’s Hospitals across the United States, but I have to be able to meet the needs of just “one” before I can do that.
In a few days I will be heading to Loma Linda University to meet my fate. It’s amazing when one is told that they have a Tumor, and what the outcome will be is unknown. All of a sudden I feel the strength to reach beyond my wildest dreams to ask the best-of –the –best people I know to help me. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I know that no matter what happens to me… there will still be children who go through this daily, and will wake up searching, Somewhere over their Rainbow.
Will you help me TODAY: You can log onto: www.justmom.net or www.justmominc.com to give your gift of comfort. And please share this e-mail with EVERYONE you know.
If you have any questions, please e-mail directly at gina@justmominc.com.
Looking forward to being given the gift of another day, and praying that all the dreams that you dream today… really do come true!
Onward!
Gina Woods & OwieBowWowie
Just Mom, Inc.
Home of "OwieBowWowie and Friends" 501(c)(3)
PO Box 6533
Thousand Oaks, CA. 91359