Wow! People are so “aMAYZingly” good! Saturday night we had a fundraiser to help make our dream come true of opening the aMAYZing Kids therapy clinic in Hailey’s honor. It was an enormous success! I can’t even describe how overwhelmed I am by the amount of people who came out to support us!!! It was one of the most aMAYZing nights I’ve ever had! As Sean and I stood up and addressed the crowd (I’ll post video once we receive it) my heart literally swelled with gratitude for each and every face staring back at us. To be loved that much by so many people is indescribable.
The generosity of people, especially in tough economic times like these, is something that I am in complete awe of. I was telling my sister in the car on the way home that night how I felt somewhat embarrassed by the fact that I don't even know where to begin in properly thanking each and every person for their immense support. I am a person of many words, but sometimes there really are none. I guess all I can do is pay it forward and pray each night that the Lord will personally bless each and every person who has taken time out of their busy life to show their love, compassion, and support for us. It was an honor to be in the same room with so many wonderful people!
At the end of the night we ended up raising $20,000 to go toward the clinic!!! I’d have to say it was a HUGE success. We are so excited to have the opportunity to open such a special place. The whole point of this new clinic is to help underprivileged and/or under-insured children get the help they need to live as normal a life as possible. I was quite skeptical myself about putting Hailey into therapy when she had just turned one. She only had an hour a week and I wasn’t convinced that was going to do her any good. To be totally honest, as you all know I am, I only put her in it because it was free and gave me an hour break!!
Well let me just say, I am now a believer and huge advocate for these services. The therapists that worked with Hailey literally changed her life. Not only did she learn to do “simple” things that you and I take for granted (like step up onto a curb), but she gained such confidence in herself (almost too much at times!)!! Her quality of life would not have been near what it was without these amazing therapists in her life. This is why we are so passionate about making sure that other children get the services they also need. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a parent who has to watch their child struggle and deteriorate because they cannot afford therapy and honestly I didn’t realize what a reality that is for so many right now. Several “halos” we’ve given out were to families who needed help paying for therapy for their child.
All that being said, this is why we’re so excited about The aMAYZing Kids Clinic!!! To be able to help children get the services they need in Hailey’s honor is so exciting! Losing a loved one is the worst thing in the world, so if it’s possible to make some good come out of it that means everything. Opening this clinic has become Sean’s passion and he has worked hundreds of hours with Hailey’s therapists to achieve this dream. I wish I could take some of the credit for something so great, but I have to admit that it’s all them. They are a ridiculously amazing group of people and anyone who has the honor to work with them should consider themselves extremely lucky!
I think one of the most important and special things about the clinic is that it’s non-profit. Sean and I will never make a dime on this venture. It’s all about giving back and helping those in need! Losing Hailey has taught me how wonderful it feels to serve and give to others! It’s such an awesome feeling!
Hailey made Sean, myself, and her therapists very proud while she was here, so I hope that we are now able to make her just as proud!
Here are some pics from the event!
(I tried to stay away from posting pictures of the guests for privacy, but just for the record there were about 150 people in attendance!!)
Here you could purchase one of Hailey's hand prints and write a message to her. They will be made into a mural by a professional artist to go permanently on the wall in the clinic!
(If you're interested in buying a hand print for yourself, please email me at haileyshalo@yahoo.com. They are $5.00. I will mail it to you so you can write your message for the mural!)
We gave away a diamond ring that was donated!
(Oh, and there was Martinelli's Apple Cider for those non-champagne drinkers! Ha Ha!)
The equipment wall!
(Also, if you're interested in purchasing a piece of equipment for the clinic please email me at the above address and I can let you know what's available.)
Hailey's Table
This was full of photos and knick knacks that belonged to Hailey!
The 4 most aMAYZing therapists in the whole world!
Me showing off a custom made necklace in Hailey's honor. It's a halo of diamonds with white gold angel wings. The couple who won this in the auction later gave it to me as a gift!!! I am soooooo thrilled!!!
There were several musical numbers, most of which were written just for Hailey. (This is one of the therapist's daughter singing.)
The final song, In My Daughter's Eyes, really brought the tears flowing...
Some of our many sponsors...
We also have Ed Asner as an official sponsor too!!! Click on Ed's name below to view his public service announcement!!!
(For those of you "youngins" who don't know who Ed Asner is, one of his latest projects was the voice of the man in the movie Up!)
If you haven't already checked out the aMAYZing Kids website click on the following link: http://amayzingkids.com/
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