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1 Winter 2019 HopeNotes Magazine Meet HopeKid Chloe Imagine Hope Here HopeKids families share their Christmas hopes GIVE HOPE THIS TUESDAY2 Contents Volume 2, Issue 4 Winter 2019 Features 7 Fairy Tale Ball 10 Family Portrait Day 12 Program Partners 14 Get Involved On the Cover Chloe is a 5-year old heart warrior who was diagnosed at birth with VOGM, a rare brain disorder which affects the blood vessels of her brain and heart. After numerous surgeries and medical procedures, Chloe has surprised all of her doctors and is doing extremely well. She started french immersion Kindergarten in the fall and has loved meeting new kids and having new experiences. Since joining HopeKids Arizona in 2014, Chloe and her family have participated in more than 50 events including movies, museums, live theater events and even cookies with Santa. “We love HopeKids. They have provided us with so many opportunities to enjoy life as a family!” - Kathryn, Chloe’s Mom3 4 Imagine Hope HereImagine Hope Here Families Share Greatest Hopes for the Holiday Season GivingTuesdayGivingTuesday Give the Gift of Hope 6 Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines Technology Classic Car ShowTechnology Classic Car Show Record-Breaking Generosity 9 Sever’s Fall Festival Sever’s Fall Festival Celebrating a 10-Year Partnership 8What is your hope for Christmas? HopeKids families share their greatest hopes for the holiday season. “For families to not wait until something tragic happens to focus on what is important. Before childhood cancer, our lives were about ‘things’ and running the rat race necessary for said ‘things.’ Now that our perspective has been reset, our focus is on quality of Iife and appreciating each day.” - Brittany, Middle Tennessee “Hoping to feel some love and peace while missing our HopeKid who is in heaven.” - Kari, Minnesota “I hope Christmas is a time for family, not fear of potential treatments or surgery.” - Trina, North Texas “That parents didn’t have to wish for cures. Didn’t have to spend countless days and nights in the hospital with their children. Didn’t have to beg for basic medical necessities from DME companies. Didn’t have to fight for their children’s educational rights. Didn’t have to bury their babies because of some horrific disease. That’s my wish.” - Melody, Arizona “That Aurora wouldn’t have to suffer with daily pain. That she will be able to be a normal teenager.” - Seger, Minnesota “That suffering wasn’t something children had to endure. Cures for the diseases and hope for everyone.” - Cassandra, North Texas “To finally be able to afford the wheelchair accessible van we need to transport or daughter everywhere. One that isn’t falling apart and unsafe to use, like our current one.” - Melody, Colorado “For the medical bills to not start over the first of the year. We get them paid off and then copays kick us back down again at the start of the new year.” - Nora, Kansas CityChristmas? oliday season. “My wish is that our other two kids/siblings know just how amazing and patient they are as their little sister requires so much more time and attention.” - Melissa, Kansas City “That someday science will have an artificial heart for kids with congenital heart disease whose heart will fail them and this will save them. Heart transplant is an option but comes with its own set of problems. An artificial heart to address this would be life changing for so many kids. Dream big, they say, and it might just come true. That, and a lot of prayer along the way.” - Yen, North Texas “To somehow be debt-free from all the bills we’ve racked up since my son’s diagnosis. We’re drowning over here and struggling each month to keep the lights on and a place to call home.” - Breann, Arizona “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 “A trip to Disneyland!” - Shannon, Middle Tennessee “That our girls always feel loved unconditionally, grateful, happy, and that our HopeKid heals from her surgeries which results in a better quality of life.” - Cheri, Minnesota “That we can spend Christmas at home together as a family and not be inpatient. We have been inpatient the last two Christmas’s . Also, that our new year is going to be a great one. One of minimal-to-no hospital admissions and control over seizures.” - Elizabeth, Colorado “For the good times to offset the rough times. For peace and continued healing for our angel donor’s family. For stability of Jovani’s kidney transplant! ” - Amber, Arizona “A cure for hemophilia and Von Willebrand disease (we live with both). However, we would not have met our greatest friends in life, nor been a part of so many amazing life experiences had we not been given this journey.” - Bridget, Kansas City “That Shane would be miraculously and totally healed from sickle cell disease. THAT IS ALL.” - LaTresha, North Texas “That my children love themselves, including their differences and health challenges. I hope the smiles on their faces will never be wiped away and that they embrace their strength and use their experiences to empathize with and help others.” - Mistique, Arizona “That instead of worrying about my child’s future and what will happen to him health-wise that I can instead give that to God and realize that I cannot control the outcome. Instead, to enjoy every minute and every stage I have with him.” - Ashley, Middle TennesseeGivingTuesdayTo give the gift of hope visit www.hopekids.org/imagine give the gift of hope Artwork by: Kolton P., Age 9, Colorado It’s GivingTuesday! 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!NORTH TEXAS FAIRYTALE BALL hosted by milestone church “With princes, princesses, a DJ, dancing and carriage rides, this truly is a magical evening. It’s such a joy to be able to provide a night of fun and relaxation for these families who endure so much on a daily basis. Our volunteers say this is their favorite event of the year! Although our prayer is that it provides some joy for the HopeKids families, it definitely provides an immense amount of joy for our church. Thank you for sharing these precious families with us.” - Stacy, Director of Missions, Milestone Church Thank you, Milestone Church, for bringing magic to North Texas families by hosting the third annual Fairy Tale Ball!8 Sever’s Fall Festival Minnesota HopeDay Event Sever’s Fall Festival has become a fall tradition for HopeKids families over the past 10 years of our partnership. Each year, over 500 people attend this highly anticipated event. This year’s event was closed to the public to provide a safe environment for immuno-compromised kids and a community for friendships among others who “get it” to form. We served delicious meatball sandwiches and salad from Donatelli’s, families went on hay rides, played in the corn pit, jumped on the big bouncy pillows, zip lined and had a fun, relaxing time without the long lines and crowds. “HopeKids is dear to our heart. It’s an organization that truly makes its participants the priority. It’s incredibly rewarding to see HopeKids families enjoy a day out at our festival and for our family to be a part of offering a distraction - even just a short one. We appreciate that we’re part of HopeKids families’ fall traditions and hope to continue to be for many years to come!” - Nicola Peterson, Sever’s Fall FestivalSouthwest Airlines Techonology Classic Car Show HopeKids North Texas was the beneficiary of the 21st annual Southwest Airlines Technology Classic Car show, which took place in late September. Through the support of Southwest Airlines employees, corporate sponsors and drivers, they raised an event record- breaking $95,000. This gift is also the largest donation to HopeKids North Texas to date. “This donation represents our commitment to your organization, mission and is given in honor of our ‘favorite kids.” - Shaun Patrick, Event Committee ChairNext >