Showing Up and Giving Back - Week of Oct. 20th

"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give." ~Kahlil Gibran

It was a week of events for our Weatherford family.  

On Monday, both Cam and Jane had the day off for Cam's fall break.  Cameron's grandma had planned a surprise for her grandson.  We drove Oma back after eating an early lunch in Grand Rapids.  We arrived back at her Rosy Mound abode at 1pm.  Jane told her son that he needed to help his grandma find an activity she was supposed to attend.  Honey, the therapy dog, was due to arrive and Oma kept the info to herself to surprise Cam!  Honey was surely the smartest therapy dog we've ever met.  She graciously awaited pets from each person and made sure to even circle back if someone was missed.

Wednesday evening, we made our way to the Fowling Warehouse to support Review Mobility.  Jane is on the Board of Directors and the non-profit organization provides mobility equipment to anyone in need.  The yearly fundraiser is Halloween themed and costumes are optional. Brody and his mom met us there to show their support.  Cam's physical therapist from school, Ms. Michelle, made an appearance as well.

Pizza from JTs was served for dinner which was a big bonus for Cam and Brody!  It was fun to see the creative costumes and bid on silent auction items.  The Renew brochure features Cameron's picture so he is usually recognized at the events. With more than 100 people attending, almost $20,000 was raised.

We were back at it again on Friday.  Jane took the day off of work to prepare for the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Treat Pathway. Due to construction for the new pediatric hospital across the street, the parking lot could not support a "trunk or treat" event.  The treat pathway provided a safe and expansive way to provide a Halloween outing for inpatients and outpatients.  41 sponsors signed up to decorate their areas and provide giveaways.  

Jane led the committee for the Mary Free Bed Guild. The Mary Free Bed Guild is a nonprofit organization that has owned Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, since 1891. It focuses on supporting the hospital's mission through a variety of activities, including governance, patient and family advocacy, and fundraising. The Guild is also known for its history of establishing pioneering rehabilitation services and for its scholarship programs for students with disabilities.

Our pathway theme was "The Paparazzi Squad" to make our inpatients and outpatients feel like real celebrities!  Chris, Cam and our buddy, Jake created a tunnel for our celebs to come through.  At the tunnel exit, Jane had a polaroid camera at the ready to take their picture and give them the souvenir print. Other Guild members gave "interviews" for a true celebrity experience and we passed out inflated microphones and candy.  We had multiple families come through a few times! Cam tested out our tunnel and assisted with greeting.  Chris was in charge of the actual tunnel set up.  Cam and his dad made an appearance at the Clock Mobility Trunk or Treat later that evening.  When they returned to assist with teardown, they commented how crowded it was.  We all concluded that the treat pathway was a much easier experience for everyone.

Saturday was a day of rest for us all!

In the early evening on Sunday, we drove over to the Ada Garage Bar and Grill where we met up with a good friend of Cam's and her family.  Madison and her parents joined us for dinner there.  Kelly, Maddie's mom, was asking Cameron if he had a girlfriend at school.  As the probing questions continued, Cam announced to the table... "Talk amongst yourselves!" 

As his parents have always known, Cam is a master deflector 🤣 

Camology Quotes:

Cameron has excellent hearing skills.  At the fundraiser, the microphone wasn't functioning properly.  At one point, Cam asked Ms. Jenny if she knew what the person was saying and she told him she wasn't certain.  His comment to her:

"You know if I can't hear it, no one can!"