By Nancy Johnson Horn, Editor
I had the incredible pleasure to have lunch with Marlo Thomas, a 8 year old patient from St. Jude’s named Arianna, her mother and a small group of writers and editors last week in NYC.
Ms. Thomas was humble as she described her role at St. Jude’s, “I’m just a fundraiser”. But I disagree, Ms. Thomas, you are an inspiration.
Thomas described what she and the doctors, nurses and scientists and everyone who works with St. Jude thinks, that “Every single child must go home with their parents someday”. She told us she spends a lot of her life, not just raising money for St. Jude’s, which is really necessary because it costs a 1.9 million (dollars) a day to keep the hospital running, because my father (Danny Thomas) made a promise, a big promise that no family would ever pay. ”
Hear more from Marlo Thomas herself.
Besides the doctors working hand in hand with the on site scientists, there is a dedicated Child Life Specialists that work with the children to help them understand what’s happening with them.
The doctors talk to the children themselves and treat them with respect. How amazing is that?
We listened to Arianna’s mom Leticia tell her story about how she found out her daughter (then 3) had cancer. They were diagnosed in Texas and Leticia didn’t receive enouraging news. She was told NOT to google Arianna’s diagnosis. She did anyway and found out the best doctor for treating her was at St. Jude’s. Arianna was accepted into St. Jude’s and off the family went. While Ariana hasn’t had an easy time, her doctor has been amazing and really worked so hard to help her.
So, what can you do to help the children of St. Jude’s Hospital?
You can give to St. Jude.org directly, shop St. Jude’s Gift Shop (100% of the proceeds go back to the hospital) or shop where ever you see the Thanks and Giving Logo (and donate a dollar or two to St. Jude — I did this recently when I went to pick up holiday gifts for my nieces at Justice).
You can also shop at stores that will be offering specialty products where a portion of the proceeds go to the hospital.
These include:
o Brooks Brothers – http://www.brooksbrothers.com/St.-Jude/Men-Featured-St-Jude,default,sc.html
o Pottery Barn – http://www.potterybarn.com/pages/stjude.html
o PB Teen – http://www.pbteen.com/products/mini-hangaround-phone-chair
o West Elm – http://www.westelm.com/shop/collaborations/st-jude/
o Ann Taylor http://www.anntaylor.com/search/searchResults.jsp?_DARGS=/ann/common/header.jsp
o Kay Jewelers and Jared Galleria of Jewelers – (products only available in store) http://www.kay.com/ContentView?catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=10101&cmsId=st__jude_children_s_research_hospital
o Home Goods – Winter Snow Globe (only available in store)
o Target – http://www.target.com/p/st-jude-holiday-bullseye-plush-dog-2013/-/A-14644748
Have you ever donated to St. Jude?
I was not compensated for this post.
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