Our First Fundraisers

David, Grace, and Agnes

Yesterday was a very blessed day.  The weather was very comfortable and cool on Friday and we had a large turnout for our garage sale/fundraiser and sold many items.  The second day of the garage sale we didn’t have as large a turnout, but we had people who donated to Brent’s surgeries, which really touched our hearts!  Some people in our neighborhood saw the sign and just walked up and gave us a donation, which is a testament to the generous people in Wylie.  We were able to raise around $500 the first day and $200 the second day, and we are still planning on selling more items to raise even more money for the unexpected cost of Brent’s life-saving surgeries.  Dave’s sister, Tosha, is also holding a dinner/Bingo fundraiser at the Olive Garden in Florida, and we are thankful for her taking the initiative to do this on our behalf.  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful sister-in-law.  I am also blessed with my other wonderful sister-in-law, Agnes, who helped me organize and run our garage sale, and I also could not have done this without donations from our church friends: Kristin, Jeanette, Jennifer, and Agnes’s coworkers from the Olive Garden in Plano.  There is an old proverb that says "Many hands make light work".  This weekend was definitely evidence of how the generosity and kindness of many - coming together in many different ways - can help lighten the burden of those in need, and we will certainly be paying it forward.

During our garage sale, we met some people with sweet special needs children, and one of our neighbors also told us of another heart family that lived in the neighborhood.  We were able to meet them and were encouraged by the story of their daughter who actually just had the Glenn open heart surgery done and is doing well.  It is amazing who God brings into our lives, especially at this time of need because when we first found out about our baby’s diagnosis, we felt very much alone.  We didn’t feel that many people we told understood the gravity of having such a complex heart defect.  We didn’t know ourselves (until our son’s diagnosis) that congenital heart defects (CHD) kill twice as many children as all forms of childhood cancers combined.  Without these life-saving surgeries, most babies with a single working heart ventricle will not live.  Not too many years ago, parents of children born with this condition were simply offered "comfort care".  So, it is comforting to talk with someone who understands the gravity of the situation and who can relate to our journey.

We hope with our son’s diagnosis that we can also help to spread awareness of congenital heart defects.  When we first started this process, I could not help but think, “Why us?  Why does my family and my child have to go through this?”  But then I would turn it around and ask, “Why not us?” and see that we have a lot to be thankful for.  This is our special journey that we are on - one that only my husband and I and our children will experience together.  I use the word "special" alot-it's in the title of Brent's blog.  The word "special" to me is a term of endearment-something that is precious.  Despite the hardship, God cares for us, and we are special.  My son is special.  I was thinking of a verse to go with how we think of Brent and his condition, and Psalm 139:14 came to mind.  “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”  God made each of us special - special hearts and all!

Grace