Special Delivery

It took us a few months to figure out how we could best use the money that was donated to us after Rachel passed. We always wanted it to go to Santa Rosa Children's Hospital in San Antonio but we didn't know how the best way to give the money was. We decided it would be very therapeutic for us to buy them much needed toys, giveaways, movies, and electronics. We got a wish list from the 8th floor. 7 shopping trips and over $5000 in goodies later we delivered it all to the 8th floor on March 28th. We delivered 5 netbooks, 4 big screen TVs, more toys than we could count, and lots of toys and goodies that could be given to the kids when they were having work done or for special occasions. The clinic was more than thrilled. We got to see Rachel's doctors & nurses and all of the other staff that we got to know over the 2 years she was a patient there. It felt really good to deliver all of this there. They don't get a lot of donations for the playrooms. In fact, they had run out of giveaways that week and tore open the boxes of giveaways to give to the kids the next day! The netbooks are for the patients and their parents to use while they're in the hospital. Even on outpatient days the kids usually spend hours at clinic- they need stuff to do!! As a patient there, Rachel received gifts that people would donate for holidays and special occasions. Mostly, people donate stuffed animals so we tried to donate the things that we wish they would've had for Rachel. We had to donate her favorite things. We bought her favorite movies, play doh, lipstick to giveaway, and Mr. & Mrs. potato head. Her doctor laughed when we pulled out the lipsticks because everyone knew how much Rachel loved her lipsticks! I hope that those of you who donated feel like your money made a difference. When we got to the clinic to make the delivery, we noticed that the shelves were pretty bare. I feel like there is no greater need that the clinic had. Being there that day for me felt amazing. I felt like I had truly given back to the people who helped give Rachel time. It felt like Rachel was with us that day and this is something she would've loved. :) We also delivered the rocking chairs from the Middle School and the clinic was very excited about them. Unfortunately, the pics of the delivery were on a hard drive that Emily dropped. They are gone!! I have been trying to get them off of it but it looks like it will cost at least $1500 so I think they're gone. :( The following are pictures of us shopping and boxing up the toys. It was a family event! We even took the kids to deliver it all. Emily and Callie didn't want to leave some of the toys behind!