Last week we got a call from Ms. Shurtz, a fourth grade school teacher at Independence Elementary in Keller, TX. She has a young girl named McKayla in her class who is going through treatment for paraganglioma, an aggressive cancer. McKayla's options are beginning to be limited so her family is taking her to New York this week for a treatment at Sloan Kettering. McKayla was able to go to her class Holiday party and Ms. Shurtz wanted to make her visit extra special.
McKayla was wanting some fun things to wear while in the hospital in New York and she loves monkeys. We were able to find a box full of monkey gear including pajamas, shirts, gloves, a jacket, socks and slippers. The entire class gathered on the floor to help her open the gift. All the kids were so excited for McKayla and we were happy to be a part of a special day.
Today was the youth fundraiser at Bear Creek Bible Church in Keller, TX. They apply named it "Stop, Drop and Shop". Parents could bring their children to the church and leave them from 9-2 while they took that time to shop, run errands, go to a movie, or whatever it was they wanted to do. It was a HUGE success! Rebekah and Kyle Meeker, BCBC youth leaders, did an amazing job creating an organized and fun day for all 40+ kids who participated. Everyone had a great time. I loved being able to hang out all day with the kids. They were so great. Enjoy this slideshow of pictures from the event.
My book, Alexa's Going to Heaven is now published and ready for purchasing! I wrote this book for Alexa to understand that she was going to heaven, but that it would be okay. It has helped many children deal with death, especially with that of a child. It is available on Amazon and BarnesandNoble, but if the book is bought directly from the publisher, more of the proceeds will benefit The Princess Alexa Foundation.
Stop, Drop and Shop: The youth group at Bear Creek Bible Church in Keller, TX is doing a fundraiser for the foundation on Saturday, December 20th from 9-2. Parents can drop off their kids for easier shopping and any donations made to the youth for entertaining them will go to our foundation. The church is located at 1555 N. Tarrant Parkway, Keller, TX 76148. Contact Kyle Meeker for more information at kyle@bcbc.org or (817) 479-0217.
The Keller Citizen Article: The local newspaper ran a story about me and the Foundation in this week's edition: Holding On To Alexa.
This is Hannah. Hannah is a 5th grader who recently turned 11. Instead of collecting presents for herself, she chose to collect costumes for The Princess Alexa Foundation. Hannah and her friends collected close to 20 costumes! Her mother, Stephanie said, "At the birthday party, Hannah opened each costume and we got to talk about the foundation and how much fun and joy these costumes will bring kids who have to be in the hospital. For Christmas we plan on working on accessories for the closet."
I got to meet Hannah and her mother just before Thanksgiving when they were kind enough to bring to my home all the things Hannah collected. She is a bright and funny girl who I can tell is loved very much. She said to me, "It makes me feel good to give things to other people. I don't always like getting gifts just for myself. I don't know why, but if I can give things to kids who need it more than that makes me feel good." Thank you, Hannah for your kindness and generosity. You will definitely help to make others "feel good" when they need it most.
I am impressed by Hannah and the other children who have written to me about the foundation and the good things they learn by going out and getting something for other children. It makes me "feel good" to know that this foundation is able to help all children in that way. They are the treasures of life. When you just let kids be kids, you find out how much we can ALL learn from them.
This week was a big one. We are now over the 500 mark! That does not include accessories of which we have three large totes full. So, only 1,500 to go before April. Amazing! Thank you all for donating to this very important cause. I have enjoyed the phone calls and emails from those wanting to deliver costumes in person. I've been able to meet up and hug several people this week that I have only known by their names online.
If you would like to mail costumes, you can certainly do so using the P.O. address on the "How to Help" tab. Or if you live anywhere in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I am more than willing to drive and pick up donations in person.
The best part about this is going through all the costumes and imagining little boys and girls with bald heads and IV poles not caring about that for just a bit because they are the superhero or princess of the day. I see Alexa in every pretty dress up thing and know that she'd be incredibly happy sharing her love of dress up with so many other children like her.
We have gotten a great response to those wanting to help. Thank you! In the near future we will be adopting board of directors, advisory board members and a volunteer list. If you would like to join in the cause of helping kids be kids, please email me at princessalexafoundation@gmail.com. The first informational meeting will be held Tuesday, November 25th at 7pm in Richardson.
My son and I at Zale Corporation in Irving with the costumes the employees collected for the foundation.
What a response we have gotten on costumes! They have been flooding in and are continuing to be sent our way. So far we have collected 321 costumes. Our goal is 2,000 so we have a long way to go, but I know we will make it. Thank you to all who have donated to this great cause.
The closet unveiling at Children's has been pushed back to a later date to allow for the best opportunity for the foundation and for the kids that will benefit from it. Alexa's birthday is April 29th and Blake's anniversary is May 1st. Opening their closets around this time will make them all the more special.
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The foundation's first meeting took place yesterday morning. Boy did we have a lot to discuss! We have made some good revisions and are focused on recruiting others to join in our cause. If you are interested in being a Board member, or assuming an advisory position we would love to hear from you. Please email me at princessalexafoundation@gmail.com and I can forward the requirements and meeting schedule.
Halloween is over and that means SALES!! Be on the lookout for costumes and accessories on sale for kids ages 2-10 and send them our way. We need them to supply the dress up closets at Children's Medical Center of Dallas that will be placed in December. The closets will be housed on the cancer floor but also available to other children with serious illnesses throughout the hospital. Our goal is to start out with at least 2000 costumes. Right now we have a little over 200. I know that many of you out there have been shopping this weekend.
You can send your donation to the address on the "How to Help" tab or email me for other options. Remember: costumes must be new as the children are immuno suppressed. We always welcome cash donations as well. The board members are all good shoppers, so rest assured your money will be spent wisely. Thank you in advance and I look forward to seeing all the fun costumes that come our way. A lot of very sick children will have happier days when they are given a way to escape for a time into imagination.
This weekend I had the opportunity to take a costume to little Drayk. I met Drayk and his mother during our last stay at the hospital and was happy to get reaquanited at the party last Friday. Drayk is quite the active toddler! His mother happened to mention to me that Drayk wanted a Mickey costume for his birthday and she was having a hard time finding one. Princess Alexa Foundation to the rescue!
Drayk is in remission from AML, a form of leukemia and his last treatment was given to him this past week. He also turned two so to celebrate both events he was given a big bash by Heroes for Children. The party was held in the family room of the hospital and I was happy to join in the fun. Drayk loves Mickey and I am sure he will make a cute one for Halloween and the months to follow. I am thankful that I was able to continue to spread the love of dress up to this adorable little guy through our foundation. *****
The big weekend is coming up! Remember to go out on Saturday and buy costumes for us. Boys and Girls costumes and accessories for ages 2-10. I am planning a big shopping trip with a fellow board member so if money is easier, I will certainly accept that as well. Everything is tax deductible. See "How to Help" tab for more information. Happy dress up day!
The Texas Fair themed party at Children's on Friday night was a lot of fun. The kids were all really excited to stop at our table and get all dressed up before moving on to good food, games and more fun times. Even the older kids loved our things. There were two teenaged boys who got excited and put on hats, bandannas and sheriff badges. There was a lighter, happier air at the hospital that night and it felt so good to be a part of the reason. I am more convinced than ever that this is what my life will be dedicated to. This work is so important. Thank you to Annette and her son Liam who came to help me out. Liam was the hit of the night, playing with all the children and making them all feel special. The parents and staff were thankful he came. These children needed a fun night and with friendship and a little flair, we helped to bring a bit of happiness to their lives. And happiness is healing.
This is 4-year-old Natalie. She was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL) two years ago today. Thankfully, she is in remission and her treatments will be over in December. While she continues to battle immense digestive issues, she has fought through with smiles and determination. Natalie is wise beyond her years and is a caring big sister to her little brother Stephen whom she has nicknamed "The Colonel".
I look at this picture and all I see is a perfect princess. I hope she feels that way too. That is what it is all about- giving these kids the opportunity to escape from being seen as a patient, that kid with cancer, the one with no hair, the kid in the wheelchair and so forth. They can be the Care Bear, the Power Ranger, Spiderman, Batman, and of course the little princess.
As Halloween approaches, it gives us the opportunity to gather costumes for the Foundation. There are some great sales beginning to emerge. We have close to 60 costumes so far and a lot of fun accessories. Our goal is to start the month of December with 2,000 costumes. Thank you to all who have donated thus far. Remember, if money is easiest for you we are surely glad to have it. I am a fantastic shopper, so I promise to put your generous gifts to good use.
This Friday is the oncology party at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. We are ready to go with plenty of Texas themed dress up accessories for all the kids. I will post pictures of our first big event next week. I think it is going to be a lot of fun.
This is a picture of Blake Townsend all dressed up at a Wish Night gala. You might have noticed his dinner- a bowl of ice. Blake wasn't able to eat for a variety of reasons and so his diet became ice. But don't think that Blake didn't make the best of it. He knew ice like nobody's business. He could take a cup of ice and tell you exactly which restaurant it was from. One of his favorites was Chick-Fil-A ice which was requested often by this vivacious little guy. He had a booming personality and a positive attitude. He filled his short six years with fun and happiness.
We met the Townsends at our first Make a Wish art party, became friends and spent time at each other's houses. We learned about Blake and laughed at how much he and Alexa were alike. They both were hams for attention, performers, joke tellers, big smilers and of course they both loved dress up.
Our families were together celebrating Blake's birthday when I got the call from the hospital approving the dress up closet. I got off the phone and told Shelly about it and we looked at each other and knew Blake had to be involved. I needed some way to make the dress up closet boy-friendly as well. That got the ball rolling and in a couple months we will be placing two dress up closets on the cancer floor of Children's Medical Center of Dallas. One for girls- Princess Alexa's Dress Up Closet and one for boys- Master Blake's Bat Cave of Characters. Both closets will be funded by The Princess Alexa Foundation.
I think Alexa and Blake are together in heaven smiling down on this project that will keep their memories alive and spread their love of dress up to other children just like them. Alexa and Blake, we hope to make you both proud.
To read more about Blake's Story, visit "Alexa's Friends".
This week we have the incredible opportunity to begin our giving! Thanks to all the interest generated from the Spiderman request, we have been able to fulfill several other hospice patient requests as well. This week we will give to a 7-year old Spiderman lover, a 6-year old Princess and a little 2 1/2 year old Care Bear with two Transformer adoring brothers.
It has been so fun seeing the gifts and money arrive for this important cause. Having known what it is like to live with a child on hospice care, I can tell you that seeing them with a smile on their face is a parent's only occupation and joy. Every minute of their soon-to-be shortened life becomes more meaningful and precious.
Helping these children and their families get a little more out of life through the joy of dressing up brings a sense of love and satisfaction to my life that I thought I would never feel again. I know it is Alexa's work and she is proud to help them.
PLEASE consider sending a donation so we can continue this great work for ill children. Be sure to put a shopping day on your calendar after Halloween. Our goal is to get a stock pile of at least 2,000 costumes to carry forward Alexa's work. Thank you.
In June of this year, my daughter Alexa was admitted to the hospital for persistent fevers. Pictured here in her Fancy Nancy gear, you can see that she was feeling wonderful otherwise. A week later, it was determined that an unidentifiable infection had taken over her lungs and a biopsy was needed to further investigate our options.
The evening of the surgery, she was laying in bed with an oxygen mask on. She started talking about things she wanted to do when she got better so I told her we could make a list and when she was better we would do everything she wanted. Number one was "Go to a park, a PINK park". Number two was "get a pink dress". She loved parks and playing dress up and her favorite color was, of course, PINK. The list continued but we never got to do the things on her list because a week later Alexa died in my arms. Her weakened body was unable to fight off the terrible infection and her lungs simply gave out. She lived for four years, one month and 25 days.
In the days and weeks that followed I lived in a fog of disbelief and utter agony. My sweet darling girl had died and all I could do was grieve her. One day I went to dinner with a fellow cancer mother. She told me about an idea she had that Alexa would have loved- a dress up closet for the cancer kids at her hospital. Listening to her, my heart was filled with joy for the first time since Alexa's passing and I knew that Alexa was guiding me to her work.
Shortly thereafter, The Princess Alexa Foundation was organized and today, three months later, we are beginning to see the first fruits of our labor. We currently provide costumes for terminally ill children on hospice care.We also provide dress up accessories for quarterly themed parties held for the cancer patients at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas.Our 2008 plans include a dress up closet on the cancer floor for children to enjoy on a regular basis.These children are immuno suppressed, so all costumes will be new and they will get to keep what they pick out. We are also in the planning stages for “Alexa’s PinkPark” – a place where all children, including those with special needs, can safely play and enjoy their vibrant young lives.
Thank you to all our supporters thus far. I would like to especially thank my sister Colleen for teaming with me on the creation and implementation, my brother Derek for the incredible website, my husband Zack for administrative help, Kristi for legal advice, Jenny Scott for non-profit advice and my other friends on the board: Kirsten, Shelly and Ann. Thank you to all those who have shown excitement and given encouragement for Alexa's Foundation.
This is Alexa's work. I hope it will make her proud.
The Princess Alexa Foundation celebrates the childhood spirit of seriously ill children through dress up and play. It was formed in memory of Alexa Aigner, a bright and beautiful 4-year-old girl who passed away from neuroblastoma in June 2008. Through the foundation, we hope to continue Alexa's magical campaign of providing happiness to children like her who need it most. Happiness is healing.
