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Winter 2018Imagine Hope HereHopeKids families share their Christmas wishesSanaaHopeNotes MagazineMeet HopeKidGIVEHOPETHISTUESDAYContentsVolume 1, Issue 3Winter 2018Features7 Giving Tuesday8 Meet Brendan10 Chapter Photo Albums20 Program Partners22 Meet Maddi24 Get InvolvedOn the CoverSanaa is a bubbly 10-year-old who is always smiling and loves to talk. She’s a spastic cerebral palsy warrior and some of her favorite activities include going to the movies, shopping, and hanging out with family and friends. Sanaa’s family joined HopeKids in August 2017. Together, they watched their first ballet performance, Beauty and the Beast, and thought it was amazing!“HopeKids has provided me with several opportunities to take her on plenty of adventures that I couldn’t afford and for that I’m forever grateful.” - Quita, Sanaa’s mom4Imagine Hope HereChristmas Wishlist Written by FamiliesMiddle Tennessee New Chapter Launching 20196Notre Dame Preparatory High SchoolKids Giving Back to Kids8HopeWalk2018 Chapter Recap23“For my son to forget what the inside of a hospital looks like.” -Krystal, ArizonaWhat is your Christmas wish?HopeKids families share their greatest wishes for the holiday season.“For them to discover a cure to the rare diseases with no cure!”- Alisha, Arizona“To have my son be pain free, a life with more fun than doctor visits. A life where we can budget for expenses and not the constant extra medical costs. For a feeling of peace, joy, and hope. Hope gives us so much strength to endure the constant fight for our children and day-to-day struggles.”-Jill, Minnesota“Health for my daughter, positive influences for my sons, peace on earth, goodwill to men. And honestly...a KitchenAid mixer! White, please.” - Chalea, North Texas“A properly functioning wheelchair van to take my daughter places in without destroying my back lifting her chair.”-Melody, Arizona“For my daughter’s cancer to never return and for cures so no other families have to walk this road.”-Lindsey, Minnesota “To truly live without fear of the future. Some of these diagnoses are anxiety inducing. I want to be so present in the moment and connected to God that faith cancels all fears.” - Stephanie, North Texas“Our biggest wish is to be able to pay off debits and help others. Complete healing for those needing it.”- Lisa, Colorado“For people to be kinder and teach their children that being kind goes a long way.”-Leslie, Kansas CityWhat is your Christmas wish?HopeKids families share their greatest wishes for the holiday season.“That everyone always feels loved, supported, and know no matter what, everything will be okay. I wish for strength for those who need it and positive guidance from those who are willing to share it. I wish for answers to medically unknown diseases/disabilities, cures to all that suffer, and abundance of all good things.”-Cheri, Minnesota“A white Christmas, a seizure-free day, the smells of a turkey in the oven, Christmas music playing, and laughter of my boys.”-Nikki, Arizona“For relief from the constant sickness and pain for my little guy, but more than anything I want to enjoy each precious moment we have together as a family. It’s easy to get lost in the bustle of our medical existence and expenses and forget to cherish the good.”- Heather, North Texas“We’ve had so much chaos and bad luck going on over the last few months. I’d just wish that our family was safe, happy, and together. Anything above that is a bonus!”-Lori, Kansas City“For all kids with cancer and their families to take a moment and enjoy life. For them to smile and push through these journeys. For them to believe in a cure and to fight like a kid!” - Jennifer, Minnestoa“To get through the holidays without seizures and hospital stays and fewer doctor’s appointments. To be able to spend quality time with family and friends. The Christmas season is so hard when the lights are a huge trigger for seizures.”- Jadie, Arizona“For everyone to take time and enjoy what is around them. Too often we do not see the blessings around us in hard times.” - Stephanie, North Texas“A cure for mitocondrial disease, but also that I will get to see my kids grow up. Second, that my HopeKid will know who I and his siblings are on Christmas morning.”- Cass, Arizona“Greatest prayer in life? Healing for Hope, of course! Greatest Christmas wish, though? A trip away with just my husband, which we haven’t had since becoming parents, because of Hope’s health.” - Jessie, North Texas“For the world to be happy, healthy and content! Oh, and for HopeKids to always be by our sides!”-Melinda, Minnesota“Our biggest wish as a family, is to beat Dravet syndrome. To have more happy days, more milestones met, and to stay out of the hospital longer.”- Elizabeth, Colorado“My wish is two fold. I wish that my kids will have a good Christmas and that we are all home. I would love for none of us to be in the hospital on/around Christmas.” - Candice, Kansas CityMiddle Tennesseelaunching 2019Each year in the United States, approximately 500,000 children cope with life-threatening medical conditions. These conditions affect the entire family with more than half of parents suffering from acute stress disorders and 80% of siblings having elevated levels of post-traumatic stress. As a result of statistics like these it is our desire to continue to bring the message that hope is a powerful medicine to as many people as possible. Because of the support and generosity of people like you, we are excited to be launching a Middle Tennessee chapter in 2019 and are looking forward to serving the families in and around Nashville who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition.CC Image courtesy of Derrick Brutel on Flickr7Giving TuesdayIt’s Giving Tuesday! After finding the perfect gifts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, consider giving the gift of hope to families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition. Your gift of $30 provides an unlimited calendar of free events for one family for an entire month!To give the gift of hope visit www.hopekids.org/hope365give the gift of hopeMEET CaysonCayson is 10-year-old cystic fibrosis warrior who loves to jump on the trampoline and draw. He’s a music fan with Michael Jackson currently playing on loop. Cayson can spend hours creating spaceships with LEGO bricks. His family enjoyed hanging out with the penguins at the Denver Zoo and often catch movie events at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.“HopeKids provides a stress-free, worry-free environment! For that day we are just family hanging out having a great time!” – Brenda, Cayson’s momHopeKids Colorado8Notre Dame Preparatory High Schoolkids giving back to kidsFor the past nine years, HopeKids Arizona has been blessed by the support of Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale. Every year, Notre Dame hosts our HopeWalk as well as plans and hosts the HopeDay festival - two of our biggest events! We are so grateful to the staff and students of Notre Dame for providing hope to Arizona families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition!MEET BrEndanBrendan is a 2-year-old hypoplastic right heart syndrome hero and enjoys playing outside and swimming. His favorite movie is Finding Dory because he loves fish. Of course, Brendan loved learning about them at OdySea Aquarium and SEALIFE Aquarium with HopeKids! “HopeKids has allowed our family to have a little normalcy and fun in our lives that we wouldn’t have been able to have without the help of HopeKids. Many of the events we have been to would have been too expensive for us to do or not appropriate for our child’s abilities.” - Laurie, Brendan’s momHopeKids Arizona9MEET QuinnQuinn is a spunky 6-year-old anaplastic ependymoma fighter and is funny as can be. She loves Minecraft and Barbies and stays active by doing karate and playing outside. Quinn recently attended the “pastries with princesses” event and enjoyed dressing up and playing pretend. “HopeKids has allowed us to be able to do things we normally wouldn’t. With so many appointments and being a single mom, we just don’t have the extra funds for fun stuff. It also gives me the opportunity to network with other parents so I don’t feel so alone and isolated.” – Sarah, Quinn’s momHopeKids Kansas CityGolf for HopeKansas City Charity Golf ClassicCANYON FARMS GOLF CLUB | OCTOBER 1, 2018 Canyon Farms Golf Club hosted the inaugural HopeKids Kansas City Golf tournament. Upon arrival, golfers were greeted by HopeKids families and enjoyed a Chick-fil-A breakfast in honor of Addie Schlesinger and Delaney Schlesinger. On the course, golfers had the opportunity to shoot a ball launcher and enjoyed subs provided by Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs. Hole 10 was the fan favorite as HopeKids distributed hand-decorated golf balls and served lemonade! Following the tournament, guests enjoyed the scenic views from Canyon Farms’ brand new clubhouse, a BBQ buffet, and silent auction! Thank you to our 2018 sponsors:The Kansas City Chiefs AmbassadorsPolsinelliJE Dunn ConstructionCountry Club BankClarus GroupDenise Sanker: The Rob Ellerman TeamMaxim Healthcare ServicesNext >