Peine Ridge Community Service Project Update
Wow! Just like the love & support we've received from others, Peine Ridge knows how to show love and compassion too! I'm so glad that something positive can come out of Easton's Journey. With our donations (our current count is over 1,821 items donated) & cards made at the parties, we have made a difference in another family’s day. There were many times while Easton was in the hospital that the doctors delivered disappointing news to us ("your son is in heart failure" "he won't be able to go home like we thought" "he'll need another medicine" "we've found something new-another diagnosis").
After hearing such difficult news I would walk down to the Ronald McDonald Family room where someone had just brought in desserts or a volunteer had just finished and folded the laundry I had going. That love and compassion became a gift from a stranger (like you) and it was that little 'something' that would cheer up my day. Your donation or kind words will touch someone's heart in a way that you never knew possible during one of the most stressful and difficult time of their life!! My family, and other’s like mine, cannot thank you enough for your kindness and generosity!
Many of you have asked how Easton is doing and I would like to share an update on Easton: Many of your children at school have also asked about Easton showing care and compassion for a child most have never met!
Easton is doing well!! He only needs one more minor surgery (over spring break) and this last time he had Dr. visits 2 specialists said they didn't need to see Easton again for another 6 months to a year!! It felt so strange not to schedule the next visit at Children's Hospital. Every time he has an appointment, we stop by and visit his old NICU nurses & peek in the Ronald room-we'll miss doing that! Feel free to write me a letter or send a message through his Facebook page 'Easton's Journey', asking about his progress. I am so proud to work at a school with such caring & devoted families!
Now that you know a little something else about me (about my family & precious baby's experience), let me tell you a little something else about Easton. He has Trisomy 21, better known as Down Syndrome. This just means his body was made a little different-he has one extra chromosome in his body. He was born this way, just as you are born with your hair and eye color; it can't be changed. We have used his story as an opportunity to teach the student’s at Peine about accepting differences and being kind (even if someone looks different than we do, talks differently than we do, or learns at a different pace than we do). Participating in this project has done so much more than raise donations for a deserving and meaningful organization such as the Ronald McDonald House Charities. It has given us an opportunity to teach the students how to accept differences, care for others, and that they can make a difference no matter how small (or how big) they are. When a small group of committed people come together to accomplish something positive they can change someone’s world for the better. We hope your child has started to learn this important life lesson by participating in Easton’s Journey!
Part of the reason Peine Ridge chooses to focus on a community project in February is so we can remember that showing others we care is something that's important. So the next time you come across someone who's a little different than you or has different strengths & weaknesses, think of Easton & myself and please remember that everyone has a heart and you can make a difference by showing you care! Thank you for all of your compassion!!
Mrs. Kim Youngberg and Family and the Peine Ridge Staff
P.S. Easton says we are still taking donations until March 1st, 2014 and he knows we can make our goal of collecting 2,000 items if we try! Let’s make someone smile and bring in just a few more items!
Link for the donation list can be found on this blog in the post right before this one or by visiting our school website Peine Ridge Elementary School Home Page or you can click here for the donation wish list. This link will also take you to the main web site which will give you additional information about the 6,000 St. Louis Families that the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater St. Louis helps each year and additional ways you can support the organization.
