Pay It Forward and Give Back ~ Week 4 (and Week 3's Winner)

This week's special is not only about helping those most in need, but is very near and dear to my heart and my family.  I'm wanting to pay it forward this week and help give back to a family that could use it more than I need it right now.  This week is dedicated to one super awesome, courageous and outstanding little boy, Hayden Otto and here's a little background on Hayden's past 9 months...

In August 2009 Hayden went in for his regular dental checkup. The dentist noted a lump on the roof of his mouth. From there we went to an oral surgeon, had a biopsy and he had a clean bill of health. About a month ago, Hayden started experiencin​g pain in his cheek, some swelling, fatigue, headaches and so forth. To make a long story short, he had two CT scans done this past week and a tumor was located on the right side of his face. On Wednesday Dec 23, 2009 he had a biopsy done at the U of M and that is when we found out Hayden has bone cancer. He has been diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma.

Hayden and his mom, Katie, are now out in Boston for Proton Therapy (look here for info on Proton Therapy) and will be there for another month and a half.  Katie and her husband, Tony, also have a daughter Delanie who is a few years older than Hayden.  I can't imagine, not only having a child fighting cancer, but to have one parent and child in one state and another pair a thousand miles away in another state.  Katie has more spirit and up-lifting energy than anyone I know...all the while having a precious little boy going through what NO child should have to go through.  Katie, you are truly one of a kind, and although we don't know what His plan is with us, while we're here on earth, you're doing an awesome job and raising two exceptional children.

When we met with the radiation team on Monday they explained everything.​ It is hard to take but I know it is something he has to go through to get better. This radiation could cause brain damage, hearing loss, vision problems ( very very rare for those three things) He will get a sun burn on his face most likely, sores in his mouth, nose and sinus area, possible chance of hormone loss, possible chance of developing a second cancer from the radiation and so forth. We knew this going into protons though cause it could happen with the photon therapy he would have had in Minnesota. Out here makes the chances of these side effects less than what the treatment in MN would have. The radiation doctor here said that Hayden is a very good candidate for this proton therapy. He will have a total of 31 radiation treatments.

(You can read all about Hayden and his fight here)


I personally met Katie back in late November of 2009 when the whole family came to our home to what else...get some hats from bekima knits!  Tony and my husband had known each other from growing up in a small town, and I am actually a distant cousin of Tony's.  It truly is a small world after all.  I fell in love with this family from the get-go; nothing melts a Mama's heart more than when another Mama gives the ultimate attention to her littles, and Katie did just that.  We so wanted to have them over again, but you know how the holiday season gets, and the next time I saw Katie was at the church live nativity in December.  I need to say this about Katie...Katie truly wears her heart on her sleeve and I could see right away why she is so loved and has so many friends.  Katie found me in the crowd and came over to talk, and that's when she told me about their appointment the following day to have a 'lump' checked out at Hayden's dentist.  Never, never, did I expect to hear the news that followed after that day.  And that is why I want to give back to a family that is so deserving, especially in this economy when one parent has had to go without pay since the beginning of 2010.

Here's what we've chosen to do to not only help the Otto family, but to also allow an outlet for others to give and also get back.  For the next week, bekima knits will be donating 40% of ALL sales to help Hayden's family with medical bills, their apartment in Boston, and all the other expenses living in and out of hospitals bring with it AND also a fund that is near and dear to the Otto family's hearts, the Children's Cancer Research Fund.  It was this fund that paid for the airline tickets for the family to get out to Boston for Hayden to have his proton therapy.  Of the 40%, half will be going to the family and half to the Children's Cancer Research Fund, which is in place to someday have a world free of childhood cancer.

If you're wondering what you could do with a bekima knit item, all of our bekima knit items would make great baby gifts to have on hand, if you don't have a little one of your own.  It's a win-win for everyone...you all get an awesome bekima knit item (or more) and you also get the warm fuzzies from donating to and on behalf of Hayden.  And for photographers, everything makes an excellent addition to your prop collection.  You don't have to note anything when you purchase, unless you'd like to let me know you're wanting to give to little Hayden; I will pass any and all messages on to Katie and the rest of the family.  ALL sales from now until midnight on Monday, May 17th will be included in the donation.  You can shop here to help the Otto family and funding research for childhood cancers.

If you absolutely still don't need anything or can't help out financially (I know, I've been there)...you can still help!!  We are donating $1 for each person that becomes a follower of our blog (up to $500), and it's super easy!  Just click on the 'Follow' button along the right hand side of this blog...it is that easy.

I wanted to try something new, something that is close to my heart and pay it forward.  I'm blessed to have 3 healthy girls, and although we never know what our future will bring, I'm glad to know that I'm not only helping a deserving family, but also helping fund research that our family may need some day.  I hope you're all on board and join in the fight to find a cure for cancer, because no one, especially children, should ever have to go through what Hayden and his family are fighting.

We're sending lots of love, hugs and super prayers to the Otto family tonight...and always.

Oh, and if I could give away the super mom award of the year...Katie, you get it by a long shot :)

~  t


NOT to forget the winner of last weeks giveaway...lucky number

11

Stephanie - please contact Kelly at koxborough@yahoo.com to choose between your custom card design or a super cute hair bow holder!!  Congrats!!!  You have until Midnight (CST) on Sunday, May 16th to claim your winnings :)