The Luckiest

As many of you know I am very involved in an organization at home called the Josette Beddell Memorial Foundation.  We have charged ourselves with raising money to aide people in Stark County who are suffering financial hardships due to the tragedy of breast cancer. Check out our website for more about our endeavors and successes. Josettememorial.org

This post is less about JBMF and more about a similar cause that Nathan and I recently supported here in Erie. I feel the need to share this story because:

1.  It's great to see local people working to raise funds for a cause that is close to their hearts, just like we do with JBMF.

and

2.  Stories like this hit close to home when you've been blessed with a perfectly happy and healthy baby girl.

Nathan participated in the Maeve Memorial Run last Saturday morning.

The race was a European style 5K with obstacles to maneuver.  Think mini, homemade Warrior Dash. It's advertised like this: "There are mud pits to negotiate, a bridge to cross with a rather steep ramp, a log wall to climb over, and a vigorous climb up a hillside with ropes to assist your efforts."  It is also recommended that participants wear cleats! :)  Nathan took it like a champ and finished the course in no time!

This is Nathan right after he finished. 

(Please note: Afterward, we got straight in the car to drive home to Canton...)

Nick Crosby, a fifth year resident and our neighbor, is the one who encouraged us to participate in the event.  We are so glad that he did.  Nick brought along his oldest daughter, Addie, who is almost a first grader.  Addie hung out with Amelia and I while the daddies raced.  Then she participated in the Mimi Maeve Run! 

Nick and Addie

Nick and Nathan

(post hose-off)

This organization is raising money in honor of Maeve Alice Miller who died in her mother's arms on her 20th day of life. (See what I mean, it hits close to home?) Her parents have already raised enough money to name a NICU care station at Hamot Women's Hospital in Maeve's memory.  They are currently working toward paying off the completion of the Maeve Memorial Garden outside the women's hospital.  Pictures

Just a short bit of Maeve's Story:
"Maeve had a bigger problem to face…she had a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), meaning her diaphragm had not developed properly, so some of her abdominal contents had been in her chest cavity. Throughout the pregnancy we were of the understanding that Maeve’s stomach was in her chest, pushing her heart to the side and taking up valuable space where her lungs needed to develop."


When I think that I've had a bad day, this is such a healthy reminder for me that I haven't had the worst day possible.  After being smacked with this kind of reality all I can do is count my lucky stars over and over and over again.  I cannot even come close to imagining the sadness that this must bring to one family, and I truly respect them for being able to turn their misfortune into good for others. Not a minute passes when I am not desperately grateful for Amelia's health, happiness, and perfection.

I will not share the rest of Maeve's and The Miller's story, because I almost can't stand the thought of it.  I would encourage you to visit their site and read it entirely when you are in a private place and prepared for a good cry (arm yourself with Kleenex).  Go to  http://www.maeverun.com/, especially if you're feeling down on your luck, or in a frumpy mood, or willing to offer a dose of compassion for someone else's hardship in order to remember how lucky you really are.

I'm off to adore my baby girl and shower her with love and kisses.