What I'm Thankful For

In this time of Thanksgiving, I give thanks for my children, my family, and to the Shriners. When one thinks of the Shriners, one might think of men wearing funny hats, the Shriners Circus, or the fundraisers they hold. What one doesn't ordinarily think of is the Children's Hospitals they support or the many trips these men (wearing their funny fezzes) make, ferrying children to and from the Shriners hospitals from neighboring cities or states, sometimes hours away.

Every day the people of Shriners Hospitals make miracles commonplace. Every day they improve the lives of children from all over the world by treating burns, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic problems, and cleft lips and palates. Every day, they give children the chance to live more normal lives and defy the odds.

One of the Shriners kids is my daughter, Isabelle. With the help of the Shriners, Isabelle has defied all the odds. We were told she'd never walk; now she not only walks but she runs. Thanks to the Shriners and the employees and volunteers at Shriners Hospital, she had the best doctor in the world (for her particular surgery) operate on both arms and perform miracles. Thanks to the Shriners, Isabelle not only has almost full use of both hands, she has the best penmanship in the family; she's an artist, a writer, a dancer, and a living, breathing miracle.

Isabelle has been a patient of the Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago since she was three months old. She's had two major surgeries, spent eight days in their PICU, and has had countless visits. Of all the hospitals in which Isabelle has stayed, she's never received better care than the care she's received at Shriners.

Shriners Hospital is free to any child up to the age of 18 eligible for admission regardless of financial need. To get more information, apply for care, or donate to a very worthy cause, see their website at: www.shrinershq.org/hospitals

What are you thankful for?

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