Gather for Gratitude:
“Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself.
It’s what you do for others.” ~
I love those words.
I’ve shared the quality and integrity behind the Shaw Floors brand but now, their generous heart! I recently had the opportunity to travel to Memphis, TN to celebrate the Shaw StyleBoard relationships and to experience St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization very near and dear to Shaw. Shaw Floors is a very generous contributor and the visit was eye opening to say the least. Life changing!
ABCs according to the little ones at St. Jude
The tour hosted by a sweet former patient (thanks, Eliza) was so interesting and positive filled with stories and facts. I’ve never been surrounded by something so important before. Here are some pretty amazing key points about St. Jude:
- Families NEVER receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
- Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90%, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
- St. Jude freely shares the discoveries they make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.
What an honor to walk those halls, to be a guest.
Pictured left to right (rubbing Danny’s nose for good luck!): Brittany//Addison’s Wonderland, Roeshel (Me!)//DIYShowOff, Rhoda//Southern Hospitality blog, Beth//Home Stories A to Z, Cassity//Remodelaholic, Heather//At the Picket Fence. Missing: Vanessa//At the Picket Fence, Amy//Blissful Bee.
St. Jude – patron saint of lost causes and desperate cases.
children’s artwork lines the halls
Highlight of the trip: Seeing the halls lined with bright colored murals and children’s artwork helped to create an environment of smiles and hope, learning of the amazing work being done daily filled my heart with so much…hope! But getting creative and crafty with these sweet little faces was the best part of my trip! Giggles and smiles and paint and just a glimpse of happiness in what isn’t an easy experience. Such troopers! It really puts life into perspective.
{confetti celebrations on last day of chemo}
Target House was gorgeous – so many people coming together to supply everything needed for families to keep their focus on their #1 priority: treatment and care for their little loved ones. Built in 1999, Target House is a free home away from home for families and patients receiving long term care at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
room designed by Shaun White
Patients who stay at St. Jude Target House receive a handmade quilt, made by Target employees!
Amy Grant music room
Art Studio at Target House
Brad Paisley gathering space at Target House
{painting by Brad Paisley}
I expected to be overwhelmed with sadness and there is no denying my personal underlying broken heart for what those babies and children (anyone really) dealing with serious terminal health issues but the environment was warm and welcoming with cheerful colors, red wagons in place of wheelchairs and inspired hope and smiles.
The rest of the trip gave us a little sneak peek and small taste of Memphis – The Peabody hotel (the duck walk!), Iris Restaurant, Itta Bena and BB Kings. Wow! What fun!
These girls and I were honored to enjoy such an experience, to learn more about this life changing organization! Thank you, St. Jude for all you do. Thank you Shaw Floors for the opportunity to make a difference by sharing with our readers.
So while I wasn’t “walking in Memphis”, hanging out there to experience a small taste and to understand the heart and soul behind the St. Jude name really touched me.
So, you guys? The Thanks and Giving campaign is coming up! And I didn’t shave my head to raise money but Danny Thomas also spoke these words…
“I’d rather one million people give $1 than one person give one million dollars.”
Those babies, those children, those teens, those smiles and those giggles should be at home surrounded by family and friends this holiday season. They’re so brave and so precious, going through so much! Please join me by clicking the link below to give what you can (no amount is too small) to support St. Jude’s efforts!
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO GIVE
That saying “together we can make a difference” really does hold true. Let’s show those tracking that link above be overjoyed to see one million+ visits and gifts from our thoughtful caring DIY/home community!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, friends!
