December 9, 2024
Today and tomorrow we are back at Children’s for more appointments. We were here yesterday (Sunday) too, but for a whole lotta fun. And it was such a memorable day!
The Harley Toy Ride! Every year, Harley Motorcycle riders (maybe 1,500?) come from all over along with Toys for Tots and bring toys to the hospital. More toys than you can even imagine. It’s done in parade fashion, led by fire trucks and followed by riders. Some have giant stuffed animals strapped to their bikes, others are dressed as Santa or the grinch. It’s festive and fun and loud!
Tate has ridden on the fire truck for a couple years now and it’s something she looks so forward to being a part of. It was a huge push for discharge for her. She missed it last year due to being admitted and then just being too unwell. She used every ounce of energy today and was fueled by her desire to just live! Fun! Joyful! Grateful!
Every moment like this is a big one in our books. And it doesn’t go unnoticed by she or I. She got off that fire truck and gave me the biggest hug. It took everything I had to keep my full eyes from spilling over. Who cries at a motorcycle parade!? I recall the first year she had a bag of tpn on her back, a fuzzy head and struggled to get on or sit on that truck. In many ways she’s come so so far. In others, each day is still such a struggle. But we’re finding that joy again.
This year, she was invited to sort toys after with her YAC group (Youth Advisory Council) along with childlife. And I felt so lucky to be a last minute add on.
It was AMAZING! Tate has been on the receiving end for years. To be able to take part in the process on the other side with so many of our favorite childlife friends and new volunteers was humbling and just plain joyful. We don’t get out much, but it was simply one of the most joy filled experiences we’ve had in a bit. Christmas music was playing and we both found ourselves singing along and oohing and aahing over incredible generosity and imagining the joy and escape these toys would bring. The heart behind everything that is done for the kids and families at Children’s is SO SO big and takes so many hands and hearts to get it there. The real medicine comes in the form of people first.