OK I’m serious about the tissue.
And this is one time, that if you do take the time to read this entire post, please comment. I know that these families will be watching, and waiting, so take an extra minute and “leave some Love” at the end of the post. Thank you!
First of all I have to apologize to everyone on the delay for my Spirit of Christmas announcement. I wanted to contact the winner and get their permission to post the winning words here on the blog.
I do have a few things to say about the contest. First of all, I have to admit I was surprised at the lack of entries I that came in. Maybe I ran the contest at the wrong time of the year, maybe everyone was just too busy to sit and think about a deserving family.. I am not sure. I only had a total of 8 entries arrive in my email box.
NOW, that being said…the few entries that I did get were amazing. There were a few single mothers, who give everything to others, there were a few moms, who took a stand and got themselves and their children out of an abusive home. I,myself was able to narrow it down from the 8 entries to 2…then I had to call in my family to help me with the last 2.
I printed off the emails of the last 2 entries and read them both to my father, my hubby and my niece. Each of them made every one of us start to cry. We had a really tough time trying to decide.
Here is part of the first nomination email. I have removed last names and I am just using the initials.
Hi Deanna,
I would really like to tell you about the ___________’s. They use to be my neighbors when I lived out in ____. Words could not describe having your 5 year old son diagnosed with leukemia. I have attach some entries that M has submitted on J’s Carepage. Carepage is a support network that I go on to see the updates on J’s progress. Please read these entries and consider the _________’s when making your decision. It brakes my heart to know what they’re going through right now, but J is strong and he’s pulling through. This is a perfect time to make some special memories for this strong family to treasure.
These are various entries from M:
J was diagnosed with A.L.L. leukemia on Dec.31/07. He has been at the stollery childrens hospital since then. J is now in full remission and is considered low risk!! This is our best news,but he still has a long road ahead of him. J has been on a continuous morphine drip which surpassed the recommended level, due to the severity of his pain. Today the morphine I.V. was removed and he is taking oral morphine to control his leg pain. J has not been able to walk for more than 3 weeks. He has physio every day now and today was able to stand for 2 minutes. He also is passing small kidney stones, which the doctors are looking into. J is now on his second round of chemotherapy and is getting back to being himself. {spiderkid)
J is now on his third round of chemo, which is called interim maintenance. He is off of morphine and using codeine when needed for his leg pain. J gave all his nurses a high five at the hospital yesterday and did not let them catch him! J goes hard until his legs give out on him, but today his legs and arm are hurting. It could be from the drug vincristine which he had yesterday. We were told J is doing well now but could have a delay toward the end of this round.
Hi everyone! We just wanted to let you know that J fell in the house yesterday and hurt his foot. We took him to the Dr.and got x-rays done and found out he has a fracture on the top of his left foot!! Poor little dude. He had a really rough night also, lots of pain and getting sick. He is doing ok right now, watching cartoons . This sure has been one big roller coaster ride for S and I, when will it stop?
Hi everyone
So sorry we haven’t up dated,things have been crazy. Thursday I had to rush J back to the hospital,he had a fever and just was very sick. So they filled him up with fluid all day. We didn’t get home till 8:00pm that night. Then we had to take him to the hospital again Sat, because he was in so much pain in his tummy. Now J has a very sore throat and losing his voice, when will it end. We leave for Edmonton tomorrow for chemo on Wed. Then we wait to see if his counts stay up or drop. If they drop that means week 5 of chemo will be delayed. If they don’t drop chemo will be on June fourth and that will be a very very long day. Then we go the next three days after also. I’m not really sure what I am running on these days any more, I’m just dead beat tired. J wakes up at least twice a night.
J is back in the stollery hospital again until at least Sunday. He is so disappointed he has to cancel his birthday party with all his friends on Saturday. His counts are still good and so far is scheduled for his next round of chemo on Tuesday. J is on a morphine drip at a level of 8 and his lower back is still hurting. He had an ultrasound today to check for blockage in his kidney,but found no blockage or sign of kidney stones.
~ Amy
The other entry is all about a single mom, who has survived against all odds, and has come out on top. Here is her nomination email. I was asked to leave one name in this email. The name of the little angel.:D
Deanna,
First, I must say, this is a very lovely thing you are doing for the lucky recipient. Here is my nominee’s story…
~ ~ ~
I would like to nominate my sister, A for “The Spirit of Giving” contest. Less than 2 years ago my sister was deep within Red Deer’s community of drug addicts. She became entwined in the world of crack-cocaine (and who knows what else) and seemed unable to free herself from its grasps. More than once I feared for her life. I feared I had lost my sister forever. My parents tried everything they could… but what can a person do when the one they love is drowning in a sea of drugs and doesn’t seem to want any help. I lost count of the number of times she went to detox… and the longer-term programs that my parents would put her into. However, the saddest part is that a drug-addict can only help themselves – no one can help them. You can just be there when they manage to pull their head above water long enough to ask for help. Many tears were shed for my sister… by my family, friends, and myself. When A first entered the world of “hard” drugs (ie: not Pot), I was half-way across the country. I felt so helpless… I couldn’t help her and I could help my parents (especially my mom).
Then, something happened. At first it seemed like it wasn’t a good thing with my sister not being in the best place in life – she became pregnant. After receiving some help from the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre (counseling), my sister managed to break free from the drugs. A stayed clean for her entire pregnancy and has been clean ever since. Her daughter, Ava (now 10 months old), is beautiful and healthy and is our family’s little miracle… she is A’s miracle.
As I write this short synopsis of my sister’s journey from the darkness into light, tears are streaming down my face. We came so close to losing A. I still worry that she will slip back into that dark world. But then I remember that Ahas her own personal angel with her every day… Ava is her angel. A even told me once that Ava saved her life and I think she is 100% right. Without Ava, I don’t know if I would have a sister right now.
I can’t help but smile when I watch A with her daughter. Seeing as how she is so young, A is struggling every day with learning the ins and outs of motherhood. There’s been more than one occasion where she has felt over her head. But she has family supporting her… and that darling little Ava to help her get through every day. A has transformed from a crack-addict on the brink of death to a loving and amazing mother. I am so very proud of her.
Right now A makes ends meet through government assistance and various social support programs (not to mention relying on family). She is a single mom with rent and bills to be paid and a beautiful little mouth to feed. In January, A will be attending RDC to get her high school diploma and start working towards completing a business admin degree. She wants to be able to provide for her daughter and knows that although being a single-mom trying to get an education will be incredibly difficult… she wants to do it for Ava. I have never seen her so determined.
A has been through a lot in the past few years. But she is now living a clean life (drug-free) and now is a mother who is working so hard everyday to provide for that little angel. She doesn’t have any luxuries in life right now – she can barely make ends meet (if at all). It would be wonderful for A and Ava to receive your “Spirit of Giving” photo shoot. Ava truly is our little miracle… our angel… and she saved the life of my sister, no doubt about it.
~ ~ ~
Thank you so much for this opportunity… you truly are spreading the Christmas spirit. Happy holidays to you and your loved ones!
Regards,
Niki
Use that tissue? well I can tell you they sure made ME cry. And let me tell you the morning I contacted the winner over the phone WAY more tears were shed (on both ends)
I am so very blessed and so very excited to meet the winner, I feel as if they are already a HUGE part in my life, and I simply cannot WAIT for their session.
OK enough typing time to announce the winner…
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There are 2.
I simply could not decide.
We (as a family) could not decide.
One family may cherish their family photos for a lifetime, with a son that is ill.
The other family has an angel who has saved a life of one person, and who knows how many more she may save.
So yes, I am giving away of $4000 worth of custom portraiture for the Spirit Of Christmas!
I have chatted with both winners, and we have all decided to wait until we get some warm weather and green grass to do their sessions, so stay tuned…. for some amazing portraits of some amazing people! Despite of lack of entries, I am more than thrilled with the outcome. These families have already changed MY life, and I have not yet met them!
