We have talked lately about Kyrie's story. Sharing it...being a part of it...and doing good because of it.
This story is not a fairytale.
A little girl...completely healthy...lost her life to cancer.
This story is not a fairytale.
Her parents were given very little information about the cancer that had taken over her little body.
The Doctors said there was nothing more they could do.
She was cared for and loved right up to Heaven.
At that moment...there was no hope. No happily ever after.
Then there was an idea.
What if...we used Kyrie's story to do good? What if we used Kyrie's story to make sure this doesn't happen to other families? What if we selflessly take our pain and use it to prevent someone else's pain? What if we tell Kyrie's story and encourage people to donate to our cause?
What if...we took every dollar that we earned and turned it into research? What if we did exactly what we told people we were doing? What if we create fundraising events to remember Kyrie and to tell her story? What if we allow others to share their ideas and to help us tell this story?
What if...we make a difference?
This is not a fairytale. But if it was...we'd want this story to end with...
And They Lived
The happily ever after part is important. But the key words at the end of our story will be...
And They Lived. The 11 children that are diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer every, single day. We want them to live. So we fight. We tell the story to make a difference. We take steps on this journey just hoping that we'll be joined by others that want to walk with us.
Thank you for joining us in this fight against pediatric brain cancer. Thank you for helping us tell the story. Thank you for helping us make a difference. Every single step that we take in this journey is relevant. Thank you for walking with us.
A very special thank you to Jeff Ellis, Christi Tannahill and the Hawker Beechcraft crew for putting on a spectacular golf tournament that benefited the Kyrie Foundation. (More information on this to follow) You made a difference beyond what we could imagine. THANK YOU!!!
Go Kyrie Go!
Amy
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Be Grateful
If there is anything that we are here at the Kyrie Foundation, it is grateful. Beyond words.
As I think back to all of the fundraisers we've either done or helped with, I can't begin to tell you how very grateful we are.
We as a board meet and we plan. We plan and we meet. We email, text and make constant phone calls checking in with one another.
Yet, in all of our meetings, never can we predict or plan the success of an event. Because the success is not measured on dollars raised alone.
No...our success is measured by number of people who are touched by Kyrie's story. Touched enough to make a difference. Touched enough to do good in Kyrie's name. Touched enough to tell others her story. Touched enough to donate to a worthy cause. And touched enough to change their lives.
It happens every single time I put on my Kyrie Foundation shirt. It is amazing to watch people hear the story of Kyrie for the first time. It is moving to watch people look at Kyrie's picture boards...the ones that sit on the tables at all of our events. They sit there...reminding us why we fight so hard for the exposure of this story. We fight because she could not. We fight for other children who can't fight for themselves. And every time someone steps up to help...
WE ARE GRATEFUL.
No matter what.
The money helps us to do exactly what we set out to do. That is why we plan and we meet...and we meet and we plan. The money that is donated goes directly to the cause that we fight for. But it is so much more than the money. The money helps with research. Research helps in finding a cure. That is what we are here to do. But it isn't just about the money. It is about so much more.
So to all of you who have stepped up to help the Kyrie Foundation...
THANK YOU.
Thank you for the third party fundraisers. Thank you for volunteering. Thank you for the exposure. Thank you for telling the story. Thank you for believing in this cause.
THANK YOU...FOR REMEMBERING KYRIE.
Go Kyrie Go! <3
Amy
As I think back to all of the fundraisers we've either done or helped with, I can't begin to tell you how very grateful we are.
We as a board meet and we plan. We plan and we meet. We email, text and make constant phone calls checking in with one another.
Yet, in all of our meetings, never can we predict or plan the success of an event. Because the success is not measured on dollars raised alone.
No...our success is measured by number of people who are touched by Kyrie's story. Touched enough to make a difference. Touched enough to do good in Kyrie's name. Touched enough to tell others her story. Touched enough to donate to a worthy cause. And touched enough to change their lives.
It happens every single time I put on my Kyrie Foundation shirt. It is amazing to watch people hear the story of Kyrie for the first time. It is moving to watch people look at Kyrie's picture boards...the ones that sit on the tables at all of our events. They sit there...reminding us why we fight so hard for the exposure of this story. We fight because she could not. We fight for other children who can't fight for themselves. And every time someone steps up to help...
WE ARE GRATEFUL.
No matter what.
The money helps us to do exactly what we set out to do. That is why we plan and we meet...and we meet and we plan. The money that is donated goes directly to the cause that we fight for. But it is so much more than the money. The money helps with research. Research helps in finding a cure. That is what we are here to do. But it isn't just about the money. It is about so much more.
So to all of you who have stepped up to help the Kyrie Foundation...
THANK YOU.
Thank you for the third party fundraisers. Thank you for volunteering. Thank you for the exposure. Thank you for telling the story. Thank you for believing in this cause.
THANK YOU...FOR REMEMBERING KYRIE.
Go Kyrie Go! <3
Amy
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The power of one
Hi all! I am a new contributor to the Kyrie Foundation blog, but I am not new to the story of Kyrie Thome. Let me begin with an introduction. My name is Amy and I am a current member of the Kyrie Foundation Board.
In January of 2008, I stumbled across this very blog via email. I was sent a forwarded email about Kyrie Foundation "Mommy & Me" bracelets being sold to support the cause. After much debate, I went to the blog and started reading back. It took me days. By the time I was done, I was a changed person. I watched Kyrie's tribute video and attempted to go on about my daily life with my husband and three sons. I tried to forget how awful Kyrie's story made me feel. I tried to forget how hard I cried when I read the post about Kyrie passing in her Mother's arms. But I couldn't. After more deliberation and a lot of questioning with God, I decided to write a message that I would give at church about the divine intervention of Kyrie's story in my life.
I had never met Kyrie Dawn Thome. I had never spoken to Kyrie's family. This was the story of a little girl I knew nothing about.
What I did know was that I had a son that was the same age that Kyrie was when she was diagnosed. I also had two very healthy boys. I had not had to watch my child slowly regress in their physical development. I had not had to sit and listen to a Doctor try to tell me about the rare cancer that had taken over my child's brain. I had not had to carefully pack up my child as we were released from the hospital with no other choice than to...make her comfortable.
My heart broke for this family that I knew nothing about. And it was almost a year past the date that Kyrie had passed when I came across her story. But I knew...I knew...I had to be involved.
I notified the Kyrie Foundation via email that I would be giving this message at church and asked permission to use Kyrie's story and a few of her pictures. Little did I know...the board members, including Kyrie's Mom and Dad, Aunt and Uncle and close family friends, would be attending the very service that I was speaking at that day. It was the first step in my journey.
Looking back, I had no idea how significant that day would be in my journey with the Kyrie Foundation. I read Kyrie's story. And I was moved beyond words. I knew part of my place on this earth, was to take action and do good in Kyrie's name.
I had no idea that Kyrie's story wouldn't stop there.
After the message and meeting Kyrie's family, I started reading forward in the blog. I found out there were many fundraisers that I could take part in. And I did. I found out there were many more ways to get involved with this foundation. And I did.
Two years into knowing and loving the Thome family, I was asked to be on the board of directors for the Kyrie Foundation.
And at our last meeting...as God would have it...Kyrie's story came up again.
Kyrie's story used to be about her birth...her life...and the love of her parents. Kyrie's story then included her illness...and her constant uphill battle with a cancer her family knew very little about. Kyrie's story continued when she was welcomed home by Jesus...and Kyrie's story now lives on in each and every one of us. Her story did not stop on April 7th, 2007. God put that beautiful little girl on this earth for much...much more. And I am blessed to say I get to help be a part of the continuation of her story.
If there has ever been a doubt in your mind about getting involved...let it diminish. If you ever thought to yourself...what can I do? I am only one person...get rid of that very thought.
The Kyrie Foundation has seen so many people...one person at a time...find Kyrie's story and make a difference.
Allow yourself to experience the power of one. Become part of Kyrie's story. You will never be the same.
Go Kyrie Go!
Amy
In January of 2008, I stumbled across this very blog via email. I was sent a forwarded email about Kyrie Foundation "Mommy & Me" bracelets being sold to support the cause. After much debate, I went to the blog and started reading back. It took me days. By the time I was done, I was a changed person. I watched Kyrie's tribute video and attempted to go on about my daily life with my husband and three sons. I tried to forget how awful Kyrie's story made me feel. I tried to forget how hard I cried when I read the post about Kyrie passing in her Mother's arms. But I couldn't. After more deliberation and a lot of questioning with God, I decided to write a message that I would give at church about the divine intervention of Kyrie's story in my life.
I had never met Kyrie Dawn Thome. I had never spoken to Kyrie's family. This was the story of a little girl I knew nothing about.
What I did know was that I had a son that was the same age that Kyrie was when she was diagnosed. I also had two very healthy boys. I had not had to watch my child slowly regress in their physical development. I had not had to sit and listen to a Doctor try to tell me about the rare cancer that had taken over my child's brain. I had not had to carefully pack up my child as we were released from the hospital with no other choice than to...make her comfortable.
My heart broke for this family that I knew nothing about. And it was almost a year past the date that Kyrie had passed when I came across her story. But I knew...I knew...I had to be involved.
I notified the Kyrie Foundation via email that I would be giving this message at church and asked permission to use Kyrie's story and a few of her pictures. Little did I know...the board members, including Kyrie's Mom and Dad, Aunt and Uncle and close family friends, would be attending the very service that I was speaking at that day. It was the first step in my journey.
Looking back, I had no idea how significant that day would be in my journey with the Kyrie Foundation. I read Kyrie's story. And I was moved beyond words. I knew part of my place on this earth, was to take action and do good in Kyrie's name.
I had no idea that Kyrie's story wouldn't stop there.
After the message and meeting Kyrie's family, I started reading forward in the blog. I found out there were many fundraisers that I could take part in. And I did. I found out there were many more ways to get involved with this foundation. And I did.
Two years into knowing and loving the Thome family, I was asked to be on the board of directors for the Kyrie Foundation.
And at our last meeting...as God would have it...Kyrie's story came up again.
Kyrie's story used to be about her birth...her life...and the love of her parents. Kyrie's story then included her illness...and her constant uphill battle with a cancer her family knew very little about. Kyrie's story continued when she was welcomed home by Jesus...and Kyrie's story now lives on in each and every one of us. Her story did not stop on April 7th, 2007. God put that beautiful little girl on this earth for much...much more. And I am blessed to say I get to help be a part of the continuation of her story.
If there has ever been a doubt in your mind about getting involved...let it diminish. If you ever thought to yourself...what can I do? I am only one person...get rid of that very thought.
The Kyrie Foundation has seen so many people...one person at a time...find Kyrie's story and make a difference.
Allow yourself to experience the power of one. Become part of Kyrie's story. You will never be the same.
Go Kyrie Go!
Amy
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