Faith Travels From Marsha Jordan...

                                        Send "Happy Mail" to a Sick Child

It all began with a little boy named Michael. I received an e-mail requesting that I pray for him because he had an inoperable brain tumor. Michael was the same age as my little grandson who had recently received third degree burns.  I knew first hand how helpless a loving adult feels when a little one is suffering and you can’t take the pain away.  This experience helps me to empathize with parents of critically ill children.  I prayed for Michael and corresponded with his family for several months. During that time, I learned of more sick children who needed prayers.

The mother of an 11 year old dying from brain cancer told me that she felt like running in the street screaming, "My child is sick.  Won’t somebody do something?” I encountered, through the internet, many parents who were desperately searching for SOMEONE who cared and who would help them through the ordeal of watching their helpless children suffer. So I decided to be that SOMEONE and do what I could.

A year earlier, due to complications of a connective tissue disease, I’d lost my eyesight. Fortunately, I regained some vision, but was no longer able to work. This left me with a lot of time on my hands. I also knew what it’s like to be sick, frustrated, and afraid.  Because of this empathy and the time I had to help others, my disability became an asset.

Michael’s family allowed me to put his story on a web page asking visitors to pray for him and send him "happy mail” to lift his spirits. As he received the cheery cards from strangers around the country, these "smiles sent across the miles” brightened Michael’s life.  He began to eagerly anticipate each new day’s mail. It meant a lot to his family that people cared so much for their little boy and what their family was going through. This is how The HUGS and HOPES Club for Sick Children was born.

My disability was a new beginning simply disguised as an end.  Since posting Michael’s story, I’ve added hundreds of other kids to my web site. I receive E-mails daily from distraught parents begging me to post their child’s story because they realize what a difference mail makes to a child who has little to look forward to besides tests, needles, pain and sickness. These suffering parents may know in their heads that God cares about them, but during their struggles sometimes they need a real live person "with skin on” to show that they love them. That’s what the volunteer "hug-givers and hope restorers” do. They mail out hundreds of packages of "happy mail” to our "club kids” including Bible storybooks and beanie bears. They provide much needed moral support to the parents and any family who requests one receives a free Bible.

In the HUGS and HOPE online chat discussion, parents voice their fears, frustrations and questions. In return, they receive information, support and encouragement from volunteers as well as from other parents in similar situations. Many endearing friendships are formed in this group. We also send storybooks to the children and family Bibles to their parents.

The Hugs and Hope web site features children from all over the world and receives hundreds of hits each day. It also features a chat room so that families of the sick children may communicate with each other, sharing ideas, providing encouragement and contacting organizations and individuals to help families of children like Nathan.

Nathan and his little brother PJ suffered from the fatal Batten’s Disease. Their parents were desperately trying to raise the $100,000 they needed each month for medical treatment to save their boys. When their story was posted on our site, musicians volunteered to put on a huge benefit which helped to raise money for the family. As a result of volunteers contacting television producers, the boys were featured on the show "48 Hours.”

Mikey S. was a three year old Leukemia victim. When he was gravely ill, his dad took several days off work to stay with his son in Intensive Care. Subsequently, he lost his job. Immediately a benefit was organized by volunteers around his state who had read about Mikey on the HUGS and HOPE web site.  Strangers rallied to help raise thousands of dollars.

Hunter, another three year old, lost one kidney and part of the other to cancer. Volunteers across the nation made handmade quilts, afghans and other items to raffle at a benefit which was organized entirely by people who had never even met Hunter.

It’s heartwarming to hear stories of so many loving and generous people who are willing to help these kids any way they can. Zack had been in isolation for several weeks after a bone marrow transplant. His greatest wish was to meet his favorite rock star.  HUGS and HOPE volunteers arranged for the singer to not only call the boy, but to send him his own autographed guitar. The smile on Zack’s face is something I won’t forget especially since we were able to grant his wish just weeks before his death.  It’s rewarding to know your efforts helped make some child’s last days a little happier.

Disability did close many doors in my life, but God opened a big window allowing me to be a part of more than I ever would have imagined.  Disability doesn’t have to mean you cannot accomplish anything worthwhile. With God’s guidance you could become involved in the most worthwhile work of your life.

I’ve learned to focus on what I can do rather than on what I can’t do. I reap such rewards that I sometimes think that I gain more than those I’m striving to help.

When you share God’s love and give of yourself, He gives you back more than you give.  Love and happiness are like sticky peanut butter. When you spread them around, you can’t help but get some on yourself!

Marsha Jordan                                                                                  

HUGS and HOPE for Sick Children 
www.hugsandhope.org

                                         
Please pray for HUGS and HOPES and please support Marsha Jordan in this awesome work of God. Send "Happy Mail” to a sick child today!