I know, I know first an audience member of Oprah, now interviewed on the radio all within a few months of each other! What could possibly be next? How lucky am I??
Ellie awaiting the limo to Queens, THAT is how you get to Sesame Street!!
On Friday, I volunteered at a radio-a-thon called “Connie and Fish for Make-A-Wish” (www.connieandfish.com). It was fanfreakintastic!! I was super nervous because the first thing that was going to happen was I was going to be on the air talking about Ellie’s wish. When Make-A-Wish of Wisconsin sent out some sample questions, I felt a bit teary eyed just looking at them and remembering how magical our wish was. In the letter, the foundation said that many wish families worried about getting emotional on the air, but they reassured us that getting emotional was fine, because over the radio, no one could see our facial expressions. Thus, I concluded, becoming emotional was not a problem and might even deliver the message more powerfully. Well, then they picked the right woman for that job!! I can DO emotional (ask anyone in my coaching group). I couldn’t sleep well the night before wondering about the interview, pondering whether or not it would be better to send Thom than have to face this sudden onslaught of nerves. I was worried that in my nervousness I would forget what I was going to say, go blank, or become a bumbling 15-year-old using the words, “like and you know”
Knocking at 123 Sesame Street (Make-A-Wish trip).
after every thought. But the more I thought about it the more I realized that I was THE one to tell the story, I knew that they would not get as much information from Thom as they would from me. When I arrived I was set up at the phone bank (8 phones, 3 computer data entry stations), the coordinator instructed me on how to answer the phones. I was so nervous by this point that I felt all sweaty and butterfly-ish as if at any moment I might just decide to black out. Everyone was introducing themselves to me to which I responded by saying that I would most likely not recall any of the information given until after the interview. My brain was basically on overload.
Finally, I was called to come for the interview and I nervously walked down the hall and sat in a radio booth with Connie & Fish. I was told to put on a set of earphones and a microphone was pushed way up to my face. Then it began and man-oh-man it was so much easier than I ever anticipated. It was like sitting and chatting with some new friends, telling them about something I adore talking about–our wish. I was amazed when it was over, there was so much more I had intended to say about Ellie’s wish and how important it has been in our lives. I talked about the importance of the wish on our family being able to spend time together (probably the most important aspect to Ellie and maybe
Ben hailing the subway train.
Ben. Well, for Ben at the time it might have been the subway train ride…) I talked about how every time we have been in the hospital since the trip, we have taken our scrapbook and shared it with the nurses and doctors, how it has continually given us something else to focus on during the challenge of hospital stays.
The first call I took (pre-interview, when I was super nervous) was from the grandpa of one of the wish kids who had just been on the radio. He was listening over the internet (who knew??) and wanted to make a contribution. One newly divorced single mother called in and told me how she and her sons had been
Oscar did not in fact tell us to "scram" as we anticipated.
listening to the show. When she told her sons that she wasn’t sure how she was going to pay the mortgage, so she did not think it would be possible to make a donation, her sons went upstairs and emptied their piggy banks, coming up with $10.
A family
Sitting at the counter ordering up a drink (just pretend silly!)
came in and their son had made his transition but they were thrilled to talk about their wish trip. Another mom came in and was gladly showing us pictures of their wish trip to Disney World, a beautiful scrapbook of their time together. She had 2 children with her and one on the way, but the little girl in the scrapbook wasn’t there. At first, I thought, “Where is the beautiful smiling girl in the pictures?” And then it hit me.she too had passed. What astounded me was how these families had the courage to come and talk about this wonderful amazing memory that they had made with their family, in the hopes that more families could experience that wonderfulness. In a way, it seemed a relief to be able to talk about something so happy, so touching, so memorable without everyone around them getting freaked out or sad.
That Rosita was determined to teach Ellie a Spanish word.
One mom who was interviewed after me came in wanting to talk with me because our stories were so similar. Her 6-year-old son had made a wish to sing the national anthem at a Brewer’s game (apparently this is on youtube, if any one knows the address will you send it to me? Then I will post it here).
I have volunteered recently for Capital Candlelighters, an organization geared at helping families with children experiencing cancer. When I have been to Capital Candlelighters events everyone is talking about cancer and cancer treatment. For some people, this type of community is essential to their wellbeing and ability to overcome the hardships unique to a child with cancer. The thing I truly appreciate about Make-A-Wish when I go to one of their functions is that rarely does anyone talk about disease or illness. Instead, the conversations are about dreams that are about to come true or happy memories of a magical time together. Creating hope. For me, the latter feels so much better than the former because so much of the time I feel as if Brain Tumor is the background music of my life, talking about it does not often feel uplifting to me. When the current season of Brothers & Sisters had a main character develop cancer, I quit watching, I figured, I already have that dramatic cancer channel on at home, I don’t have to watch it on television!
Sitting on the steps of 123 with mom, dad AND grandparents.
I have to say that yesterday was one of the most awe-inspiring, touching, moving, emotional, fun with a purpose kind of afternoons I have ever had. The energy and camaraderie in the room was wonderful, we were all working together as a team to make this happen. The staff was magnificent, both organized and friendly, immediately making me feel welcome and an essential part of what was happening. The fun was only enhanced by the way I was treated, like a celebrity, not only for being on the radio and telling my story but for being a Wish mom and a Wishgranter and a volunteer at the radio-a-thon. My thought, was “Of course I would want to do as much as I possibly can for this amazing organization. Who wouldn’t want to make some one’s wish come true?? (Here’s where Ellie would say, Oscar the Grouch wouldn’t.)” Honestly, though, feeling appreciated for doing these things that I loved felt awesome too.
Ellie in our sweet hotel suite in Times Square!
The excitement built at the end of the day as the radio-a-thon was ending. I would put down my phone and it would immediately start ringing again. I was getting “phone neck” and hand cramps, but I had to race ahead and get those pledges that were coming in. The phone kept on ringing even after the 6pm deadline. I took one call from a volunteer who works in the Make-A-Wish office every single week who gave $1000. I had to give her a big ol’ “WHOOO HOOO!!” for that one. All together, the radio-a-thon raised over $200,000. Here’s a great big bunch of gratitude for all of the wonderful people who pulled together to make that many more wishes come true, what an honor to be a part of that.
