St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – A Mother’s Perspective

Last week, I spent three days in Memphis, TN at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I first had the amazing opportunity to visit St. Jude a couple of years ago on behalf of Black And Married With Children for the annual Celebration of Hope event (you can read about my experience here). This year, I was invited to attend a special intimate blogger event to learn more about the story behind this amazing hospital and research being done to save so many sick children.

Your child has cancer.

No parent ever wants to hear these four words. But the reality of it is that many parents do. It’s bad enough to hear those words, and then to have to figure out (for many families) how they’re going to pay for the treatment their would need. I can’t wrap my mind around the stress of caring for a sick child and trying to figure out how to finance it. Like most parents, I would do anything to save my child and get them whatever they needed, at any cost.

Thank God for the vision of Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude. At this amazing hospital, which is leading the world in finding cures and saving children, no parent ever receives a bill. Ever. As in never. The only thing a parent of a St. Jude patient hasto worry about is taking care of their sick child. Everything else is taken care of by St. Jude and the many generous donors. It takes over two million dollars to run this hospital on a daily basis, and the average donation to St. Jude is only $30. I find that incredible. And it was a great reminder that no donation is too small.

I’ve always been a supporter of St. Jude. So I’m just as excited to be a part of their blogger ambassador team. And in the coming weeks and months, I’ll be sharing with you the stories of patients and staff because I think if more people knew the extent of blessings that this hospital is to so many, more would be inclined to get involved. I will also be sharing my experiences from serving food to the families to being able to speaking directly with some of the patients, visiting the Target House, and more.

One of the fabulous mommy bloggers I met on this trip was Melissa. She’s a veteran ambassador for St. Jude and shared some great insight on how we can help spread the message of the amazing work being done there. She runs the blog 4boysmother.com and also writes for Huffington Post, amongst other great sites. She shared this heartwarming post, and I wanted to share it here because it is exactly what was going through my head while in Memphis.


Moms You Need to Get Perspective:

When I get home today, I will wrap my arms around your rosy-cheeked face, sweet-smelling hair and strong body, squeezing you tight until you giggle into my ear.

Because it could be worse.

When the alarm screams Monday morning and I dread the frenzied rush, the breakfast-making, the lost-sneaker-finding, the lunch packing, I will not lose my patience.

Because it could be worse.

When my day is filled walking through bedrooms littered with wet towels, dirty clothes and empty cups, I will pick them up gratefully, letting go of my burdening annoyance.

Because it could be worse.

When the afternoon sports taxi service consumes my day and the errands and rushing pecks away at my patience, I will grasp the steering wheel with happy hands.

Because it could be worse.

When the witching hour hovers over the house and homework nags, dinner calls and baths sit poured waiting for grumpy, dirty little boys to take a dip, I will hush my hollering.

Because it could be worse.

When I slide into bed at night, exhausted and spent from the unending, thankless, and heedless job that motherhood can sometimes be, I will close my eyes and count my blessings.

Because it would be worse.

It could be me kissing sallow, sunken cheeks, caressing a bald head where there was once sweet-smelling hair and squeezing a frail body ravaged by cancer and the chemo killing it.

Perspective

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Melissa Fenton is a humor writer. Find her in the laundry room, kitchen, or running through a pasture, and also writing about her four sons at 4boysmother.com and onFacebook.


Over the next several weeks and months, I’ll be sharing more details for the things we learned and did while at St. Jude. I’ll also be sharing opportunities for how you can join us in helping St. Jude continue to find cures and save children. For more info, please visit: www.stjude.org 

Thank you to St. Jude for inviting me to be a part of such an amazing cause.

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9 Comments

  • Nadeen
    April 26, 2015 at 4:40 AM

    Congrats on becoming an ambassador! I’m sure your visit there was moving. As a pediatric hospitalist I realize how precious life is. I commend St.Jude’s for what they do.
    Nadeen would like you to check out…An Interview with Saddi Khali: Poet, Artist & “Photovangelist”.My Profile

  • Jaye@Curvatude
    April 26, 2015 at 10:10 PM

    Such a great cause. Kudos for spreading the word and “there are no truer words than “Because it could be worse”
    Jaye@Curvatude would like you to check out…{Featured} Drop Ya Pants! Join The #Underwareness Movement! #spMy Profile

    • Christine St.Vil
      April 27, 2015 at 7:02 AM

      I agree Jaye! It definitely puts things into perspective when we remind ourselves that things aren’t as bad as they could be.

  • Vashti (veepeejay.com)
    April 26, 2015 at 11:08 PM

    Congrats Christine! I love St. Jude and I try to donate and support them whenever I can. St. Jude is truly doing God’s work but providing such awesome care and comfort to families when they need it most.
    Vashti (veepeejay.com) would like you to check out…5 Things To Do In GrenadaMy Profile

  • MJ
    April 27, 2015 at 7:50 AM

    Congrats on your ambassadorship! This is perfect for you. I had the opportunity to get to know more about St. Jude last summer via an interview with them and Black Girls Run. I’ve been a long time supporter but getting to know more on an intimate level is excellent. They are a true blessing to families!

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