Grace ...

She walked through tables of board-chairs and presidents ... I am sure half propelled by the inertia of the butterflies fluttering about beneath what I imagine to be a tummy with scars from a central line testifying to her little bodies fight for life. She held her dad's massive hand and wore a floor length princess cut dress with embroidered flowers. Her hair was braided in tiny Caribbean braids away from her little round face and fastened with colorful beads. If she once lost her hair during her treatment for leukemia you could never tell. It was pulled back from the braids and curled around itself. She told me that she likes to make herself look pretty but that she was not feeling so pretty tonight. I shared how I thought as she was walking up that she looked like a princess. She blushed. I also told her that of all the important people in the room, she was the one that I was most excited to meet. She dropped her gaze and smiled. She was wearing a diamond crested necklace of a dolphin representing her wish come true to swim with her friends. She said they were soft and kind of felt like they had fur. Her name is Grace and she had just returned from a Children's Wish Foundation Wish. She was sharing at the AGM banquet, reminding everyone there why they work so hard to do what they do.
Tonight was important for me. It was important for me to kneel my heart below Grace's and honor her journey. It was important for me to see her rope of beads that was so long little feet of multiple children could skip rope with. A rope built bead by bead, procedure by procedure, visit by visit, milestone by milestone. It was important for me to see her loving brother in the background continuing to be affected by his little sisters illness.
Her father said something that settled in my heart. He talked about the internal struggle he had with accepting the wish from the foundation. He said that although it takes money, it was not the money that was the core of the wish experience but seeing his family be acknowledged for the valley they have drudged through. I thought of it as almost rewarding families for their fight. A way that we can acknowledge that it is so very far from easy and that they have done so well.
And that is what it is. A good and beautiful thing that we can give to children who have had so much of their childhood skipped over. A chance for those young hearts and souls to experience the love of their community, the goodness of people.
And this is why CWF has found a home in my heart. This is why even though I get knots in my stomach every time I ask for dragon boating sponsorship I still do. With belief in the importance of this charity I challenge you to support the children and families in our community who are fighting a very real battle for life. I challenge you to be part of rewarding them for valuing life so intensely that they are willing to go through unimaginable pain. It is so important to give back. We are so immensely blessed. I wish you could have all met Grace, as I am sure that your heart would have melted as mine did and you would be willing to do whatever you could to give another child their most heart felt wish.
For those of you who have already pledged your support I have once again felt overwhelmed with your generosity. I feel so proud to be surrounded by you all. Grace, her family, and all the wish kids and their families lives will be blessed by you.
If you are interested in sponsoring the donation is tax-deductible and all the proceeds go to the CWF. We have corporate sponsors who cover all of our training and entrance fees. If you would like to know more about the Foundation I would be happy to talk with you. Every little bit makes a difference!
FYI - I have returned to paddling this year after treatment forced me to the front of the boat to drum last year. But drum to winning the Charity cup I must add. It feels great but I must admit I had forgotten how much work it is and the various sores that are part and parcel of the experience. And yes, just like a parcel, I have once again had to wrap very tender spots rubbed raw from all my hard work ; ) I guess it will just be another scar testifying to my journey. I also am experiencing a little guilt for being so rough on my boat last year ... even I didn't know I could scream commands like that. I hope our little drummer girl is nicer this year than I was!