Wink from Heaven: Wishes really do come true

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Wishes really do come true

Caleb is going to have a wish granted by the "Make a Wish" Foundation! We are so excited! The foundation contacted me a few days ago to see if we'd be willing to be the featured family for an upcoming "Family Fun Run" in our area since Caleb will be getting a wish granted soon! The Fun Run is being sponsored by local schools in conjunction with Utah Family Month in November, and all of the money gathered goes directly to the foundation!

The "Make a Wish" foundation grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. It has been a wonderful experience to work with a foundation that focuses on creating magic for children like Caleb and their families! You can check out their website here to learn more about them!

Here is the information for the Family Fun Run:

Family Fun Run
Saturday, November 7th at Orem Elementary
9:00 Registration, Warm up, Meet Make-A-Wish child (That's US!)
10:00 Run Begins
1 Mile/5k Run/Walk
$5.00 by October 29th includes T-shirt
$7.00 after October 29th does not include T-shirt
There will be refreshments and prizes afterwards!
If you are interested in participating, just let me know and I'll e mail you the registration form. If you return them to me with your $5 registration fee I'm happy to turn them in for you!

13 comments:

minerfam said...: How awesome!! Where will the walks take place??
I would love to try to make it up there!
-DanaLee; October 7, 2009 at 1:12 PM
April said...: It is at Orem Elementary on 4th South in Orem!; October 7, 2009 at 1:32 PM
The Brames said...: Hey April. Jord and I would love to do it. Will you email me the form?
mandee.brame@gmail.com. Thanks!; October 7, 2009 at 2:22 PM
The Brames said...: Hey April, Jord and I would love to do it. Will you email me the form?

mandee.brame@gmail.com

Thanks!; October 7, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Becky said...: Too bad it can't be the week I'm out there. I would totally be involved. Can I send you some $ anyway??? I'm so excited that you guys will be the represented Wish Family! YAY!!!; October 7, 2009 at 3:47 PM
April said...: Becky, you're so funny- Do not send money! You already represent the foundation in your area!! Love ya!!; October 7, 2009 at 6:10 PM
minerfam said...: I am so so excited!! Please e-mail me a form so we can sign up! I love you and your little family!

minerfamathotmaildotcom

-DanaLee; October 7, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Emily said...: I'm so excited for you guys! What wish are you getting granted? We will totally be at the race. Also, I saw you are moving forward with your Christmas care packages and I hope you'll let me enlist! Hope you're doing good.; October 7, 2009 at 8:01 PM
heather peck said...: Our family is totally in! That is so fun, I'm excited!!!!!; October 7, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Brad and Hailey said...: That's awesome! What an amazing experience!; October 8, 2009 at 4:49 AM
Colleen said...: Make a wish is such a great organization...I really hope he enjoys his wish and the honor of being a featured family at the run!; October 8, 2009 at 8:20 AM
Lisa Christine said...: That's wonderful! I wish I lived closer....you know I would be there!

So what wish are they making come true for your family?; October 8, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Julianne said...: This is so exciting! I hope it was a great visit to make a wish today. Jewels; October 16, 2009 at 3:50 PM

Prayer for Caleb

(written by Caleb's Grandma in her weekly column -2008-)

In my family we have a secret code to communicate our love for each other when we are out in public. We wink. When one of us is about to perform or speak, we look for a family member’s face in the crowd. Then we wink at each other. Closing one eye and winking is our secret code for saying, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

About three years ago, my grandson Caleb was born into our family. He must have known before birth that he would never be able to speak to us because he was born with one eyelid permanently closed. So, he is always “winking” at us, always communicating, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

Caleb has one eye lid permanently closed because he is missing one of his eyes . . . and he is also missing his brain. All the doctors said he would die soon after birth. They were wrong. Caleb is three years old. He is a medical miracle. The doctors say he can’t see, hear, speak, think or move. Those who know and love Caleb understand he has his own unique way of experiencing the world and communicating his love to those around him.

After Caleb was born the hospice people told us to buy a burial plot and continually warned us of his imminent death. We soon learned you can not live well in a state of fear and sadness. We decided we could spend Caleb’s entire life anxious and scared he might die at any moment, or we could celebrate each day we were blessed to have him with us. In the beginning, my daughter April celebrated Caleb’s birthday every week instead of every year with balloons and cupcakes because we simply did not know how long we would have him with us. We stopped the cupcakes after we gained ten pounds, but the celebrating goes on.

We all prayed for a miracle when we first learned about Caleb’s condition. We got one. Caleb’s birth, life and mission have had a deep and lasting impact on our lives. His spirit, eternal identity and most of all the loving, individual relationship he has with each of us is truly a miracle. Because of Caleb we know that each of us has a divine purpose and that the physical body is a sacred gift we should never take for granted. We better understand the worth of a soul and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Caleb’s five year old brother Matthew said, “Grandma. The doctors said Caleb was going to die, but he didn’t. That’s the first miracle I ever saw!”

Sometimes Caleb’s baby brother Mitchell pulls out his feeding tube while they hold hands riding together in their double stroller. Sometimes the only intervention that can get Caleb’s heart rate up is when his older brothers Josh and Matty crawl in his crib, hug him and sing, “I am a Child of God.” ...If you have a moment please offer a prayer for the little boy who has never been able to utter a single word and yet has taught everyone who knows and loves him – all the secrets of a rich and meaningful life.