[September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month] Noah's Bandage Project.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

This post isn't something like what I usually share. I try to keep it light hearted around here, but this is just too important not to share.

A couple weeks ago, Brittany emailed me and a couple other blog friends to let us know about a project that her neighbor had put together. Here's a snippet of what she had to say:

... if you don't know, September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness month. Our next door neighbors lost their little boy, Noah, last June to pediatric cancer - but before he went to heaven, he sure left his mark on the world by starting something called Noah's Bandage Project (http://noahsbandageproject.com/). Quick background: at the young age of 6, while going through his own treatment, [Noah] quickly realized how un-cool it was to just have the boring skin colored bandages all over his body with all the pricks and pokes that comes with treatment for pediatric cancer. If he felt that way, he knew other kids did too. He started a drive to collect fun bandaids (that all our kids love) and distributed them to other kids at Children's Mercy Hospital in downtown Kansas City. What started as a small drive, turned into something much bigger. The KC Royal's got involved, the KC news, etc. While he did end up passing away in June 2015, his family and friends are working hard to ensure this amazing project lives on. 



And a little more information about Noah's Bandage Project from their website...

Noah’s Bandage Project has two goals – 1) to help provide cool and fun bandages to kids that need them, and 2) to help raise funds for pediatric cancer research.

As a cancer patient, Noah Wilson soon discovered that a bandage is a pretty significant thing. Often times, kids are allowed to hold onto a bandage during uncomfortable procedures, and when they are all done, they get to put the bandage on as a final sign of completion. Once the bandage is on, it means they are through – for the time being.

Also, Noah realized that hospital gowns all tend to look the same, and when the chemotherapy makes you lose you hair, even the kids start to look the same. But the bandages you are wearing, those are the cool things that you wear that lets you stand out. The plain old brown bandages get the job done, but they aren’t fun! Noah quickly recognized that the kids that are going through what he is going through, could really use all the fun they can get.

That is where Noah’s Bandage Project comes in. He thought, ‘Why don’t we ask if people would make donations so that hospitals could have more cool and fun bandages for more kids?’ So, driven by his new task, Noah created his first sign, got his first tub for collecting bandages, and got to work. Little did he know how big this idea would become.

Through Noah’s efforts, his bandage project has helped hospital administrators see the need and importance of increasing their supply of these cool and fun bandages for kids. He’s already helped to provide thousands of bandages to hospitals that were in short supply. These bandages have also been given to families to take home, free of charge! He also realized that these bandages could go to places other than hospitals as well, and has helped provide bandages to many organizations that support kids. With numerous TV, newspaper, magazine, and online interviews and mentions of Noah’s Bandage Project, his simple, yet pure hearted message of wanting to help kids like him have a little more fun in their lives has reached farther than any initially thought was possible. Noah also learned that when it comes to funding cancer research for kids, there is very little support. In fact, only 4% of our national cancer research budget goes to kids… 4%!! So, Noah wanted to help in this area too, and takes money that is donated to his project and turns it into grants for pediatric cancer research.

Would you like to help put a smile on a child’s face? Whether you know a child suffering from cancer or not, we would welcome you to make a donation today and join the mission to bring some smiles to some much deserving children.


***
Since September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to share Noah's story here today in hopes that it would inspire some of you to donate bandaids (or even money) to the cause. Hey, if I can send a box of Finding Dory bandaids to put a smile on a kid with cancer's face, SIGN ME UP.

Once I read Brittany's email and read up on the project on their website, I knew I wanted to help. I mean what a simple thing I could do to bring a smile to a child's face. A child who is fighting for his/her life and most likely has such a positive outlook on the situation, in the face of something so horrific. So, I took Mason and we headed to Target. We picked a few of his favorites and a few of mine.






even adults like fun bandaids :)

mailing the bandaids!


It's just such an amazing organization to give back to. We all know how much our kids love bandaids, whether or not they even have an owie to cover, so think of how much a child that is undergoing cancer treatments will love it when they can have a Paw Patrol or Elsa bandaid instead of the boring 'ol tan one!

If you'd like to send bandaids to Noah's Bandage Project, here is the address where they collect them:

Noah's Bandage Project
119 N Parker Street Suite 110
Olathe, KS 66061


Because these are considered a medical supply - you aren't able to send the boxes directly to the hospital, so funneling them through Noah's Bandage Project is the way to go. And best part is... there is no cut off! They are always accepting bandaids so whenever you can, feel free to send them.

If you would rather just make an online donation to the project instead of purchasing and sending the bandaids - you can do that on their website as well. www.noahsbandageproject.com

Monetary donations are always welcome and just as appreciated as the bandaids. So far, they have raised $100K and that number continues to grow!

As if you need more reason to donate to this amazing cause, grab a box of tissues (literally a box, I used about 10 tissues myself) and watch this video. This little boy is seriously SUCH an incredible little boy and SUCH an inspiration.


You guys. This sweet, innocent, strong little boy was SIX years old. SIX. That is only TWO years older than Mason. TWO. I can't even imagine what these parents went through and what they're still going through. While we have our own struggles and challenges with Mason and his autism, I would do it 10 billion times over again for him to stay healthy. He is not sick. He just has some extra challenges. I am lucky enough to be able to spend my whole life with my son. These sweet parents are not. What they are doing to help other families with children with cancer is incredible and like I said above, if I can send a box of Finding Dory bandaids to a hospital to help put a smile on a child's face who is fighting for his/her life, SIGN ME UP. I will buy all the bandaids in the world.



10 comments:

  1. This brings tears to my eyes. Something no parent should every have to deal with. I love that Noah's parents are keeping his memory alive by continuing on what he worked on. So special. We loved picking out bandaids to send.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't even imagine losing my Noah and I seriously tear up every time I think of what this Noah and his parents went through. We were happy to send fun bandaids too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh friend, I cant even imagine either. I am so happy and thankful that you guys posted this today. It is a message worth sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a great cause! I live hear in KC and hadn't heard of it before so thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is definitely a message worth sharing! I'm going to share this, I just have to get some bandages! You know Leukemia has crashed into our life!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love that so many of you are sharing Noah's story.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A box of tissues--you got that right! I love seeing so many of these posts today and I love that we can do something as simple as mail a box of bandaids to help the legacy of Noah live on!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm with you. SIGN ME UP for this!!
    We couldn't get our bandaids in the mail fast enough.
    Noah's story brought me to tears, but goodness, what an amazing little boy! He did so much during his time here. It's been pretty awesome to see so many bloggers help out this great cause.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am in awe of what an amazing little boy Noah was! I didn't know him, but he for sure touched my heart.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Loved your post. I bet Mason had so much fun mailing the band-aids off! And I love tha this shirt matched the band-aids he picked out. :)

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments and I love connecting with my readers! I respond back via email so please make sure that your email is connected to your profile. Thanks for stopping by :)

DESIGNED BY ECLAIR DESIGNS