Miss Thang and a little into her Make A Wish....

As you know, Brooke had her Make a Wish interview....she wished to swim with the Dolphins.

Unfortunately, they called yesterday to say Brooke was too young. However, they would send us to Disney for a week with passes to the parks for the whole week! We will stay at GKTW(Give Kids The World). She will be able to go to SeaWorld one day and though she will not be able to swim with the dolphine, she MAY be able to feed and pet them!

Our family is so excited....nervous we have never flown! AAHHHHH but we are looking at it like another obstacle Brooke is helping us overcome! She does that to us alot! =)

When I have more details I will definetly post!!

Operation Easter Baskets

I am working on a project as one of my give back goals for 2011! I am asking for your help! I am trying get 60 Easter baskets put together and distributed to the pediatrics at Georgetown University! This is for the Pediatric transplant unit, the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), and the general pediatric floor.

As a mother of a child that has been inpatient for long periods of time, I know personally what kids and families go through inside that walls of a hospital! When you can put a smile of the faces of these babies and kids, through a gift and kind act like this, it gives them so much joy and hope!

If you can and are willing to help put together one or several Easter baskets for these babies/kids, please contact me. The Easter baskets can be filled with small toys, coloring books/crayons, movies, jewelry, books, games/puzzles and Easter candy(No Nuts) or anything you feel a child would like.

There are 4 simple steps:

1. Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl and choose an age category: (0-2), (2-4), (5-7). (8-10), (11-13), (14-16)..please let me know what age and gender you are creating a basket for so I can keep track of what baskets we will still need created.

2. Find a basket, bucket or other creative idea.

3. Then, fill your basket with a variety of gifts.

4. Wrap your basket in a cellophane bag. When done please attach a tag that states Boy or Girl and the age category for the basket.

I will need all baskets by April 18th I can arrange to pick them up from you or arrange a delivery time and place.

If you have any questions, interested in creating one of these baskets or two, etc., I can be reached by messaging me on facebook, emailing me at wallacefamily@vabb.com, or call my cell phone at 540-661-7554.

I hope I can count on you to help with this project! Your special act of kindness will forever hold a special place in the hearts of these families for a lifetime! I know they have for me and my family!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Make A Wish

Brooke had her Make A Wish interview yesterday and all went well. When they first got there, they presented her with a Make A Wish Barbie...how very sweet and special! I didn't want to open it but of course that wasn't happening!

She was interviewed by one volunteer and the other volunteer then spoke to Bo and I and had us feel out paperwork. NBC 29 news was going to be there to do a follow up story but it was against MAW rules because of HIPAA priviacy.

I heard some of her interview but I do not know exactly what she answered. I heard her favorite resaurant(place to eat) was McDonald's!! LOL Favorite color was pink! =)

She is sooo cute. They asked her later when we were all sitting together who her favorite Princess was and she answered...Probably...Snow White! They laughed at her and said probably? She crinkled her nose and and said yes. She talks so grown. With having two older siblings and staying with my parents during the day she just has older intereaction and talks so well.

For now we have to wait for Richmond to contact us with her wish details. I am not sure what they are going to decide or do. Some things were thrown out to us but until Richmond decides for sure what they are going to grant her I don't really want to say...Stand by for more information and details on her wish!! We are really excited about what was mentioned and know whatever it is will make Brooke's wish so very special! This organization really is spectacular!!

Donate Life Virginia Mascot

Last year, I entered a contest to name the new Donate Life Virginia mascot. Brooke and I were invited to Richmond for the unveiling of the new mascot and the announcement of his name. I am proud to say that Brooke and I were the winners! The new Donate Life Mascot's name is....Captain Cardinal! Here is a picture of Captain Cardinal, Brooke and I.

Busy Busy Busy

My goal this year is to get back to updating and keeping you up to date on Brooke and her journey. She is doing really good, reason I haven't really updated anything. We were able to get through the holidays and Brooke again was spoiled and had a very nice Christmas!

2011 has now began and I have so many goals, ideas, and resolutions that I think it is going to be one busy year! Brooke is now very stable with her labs and her liver function tests are looking really good! She still has an EBV level of 400, but Georgetown is watching this very closely and monitoring it. This may just be where she hangs out...let's just pray it doesn't get any higher or intervention will have to take place.

With that said, since I am not as busy going back and forth to DC for labs, inpatient trying to get Brooke stable, consumed with her meds, and this liver disease/transplant has loosened its reins, it is now time for me to give back! I am going to a training session in February with the Washington Regional Transplant Community to start promoting organ donation and becoming a Friends for Life Volunteer and Donate Life champion!

Also, this coming Monday, Brooke is being interviewed by the Make a Wish foundation!! Georgetown sent in her information and they will be granting her a wish! I asked her the other day what would you like to do, or go, or see...her comment to me was "I want to swim with the dolphins but they might take me out to sea and I not be able to come home!" (too much Disney mermaid I think) She also said she loves Hi Ho....her favorite movie that we have to watch countless times a day! By the way that is Snow White and the seven dwarfs! =) After Mondays interview, I will post and let you know what the decision will be!

Brooke is such a blessing to us! She truly has taught us so much in her short little life! She has so much personality, she never meets a stranger, she carries on conversations like she is so grown, she has such a beautiful relationship with her siblings....well Dustin and her, Chelsie and her have a different personality together...they like to fret each other, pick at each other, argue about things together, but then at the end they are snuggled together reading a book, watching tv, and laughing together! I just wish they could get to that point quicker and save me some headaches! Really, they also have a wonderful realationship and Chelsie would do anything in the world for her!

So please check in often and know that I promise to update more and keep you posted of all Brooke's progresses, lab results (we are to monthly labs finally!), birthday party, and milestones! You have been on this journey with us every step of every day and we thank you and appreciate your love and support! Hope you have a blessed day!