Last night Michael Hardie shot video interviews for a video that will be shown at the Walk-a-Thon fundraiser on October 3rd at Mt. Carmel elementary from 6-9:30pm
(2450 Mt. Carmel Rd. Hampton, GA. 30228)
The interviews were GREAT! I can't wait to see the finished product :o)
Also...We have had 2 more people sign on to be part of our fundraising team!!! That makes 21! For more info on what the "Fundraising Team" is....scroll down to the "looking for 40" posting.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
SUPERHEROES NEEDED
I guess like any typical American boy I was fascinated with the idea of having superpowers. Many a safety pin was utilized to its maximum effectiveness holding bath towels together around my neck to serve as capes. In my regular play clothes I was average…mundane...vulnerable. But drape a towel over my back and world watch out!...I was a flying powerhouse. After five years of wearing the corners out of bath towels from poking holes and tying knots I was given the most incredible gift. A superman cape.
I wasn’t just simply pretending to be superman now...It became real. No more make believe for this six year old. There’s only so much you can do with a towel….but with a cape…
Shortly after receiving the cape I convinced my mother to buy me a pair of red fruit of the looms with a yellow band. After that I somehow ended up with a superman logo t-shirt and, to top it all off, a pair of solid yellow knee high tube socks. Now I was fully aware that Superman’s boots were red…but when your six years old and you’ve got it that close…who cares? My costume was complete. Well…at least it was complete enough for me.
I remember one particular Saturday going to my phone booth (closet) to turn myself into Superman. Yellow socks pulled up to my knees to serve as boots…Check. Red underwear with yellow band…Check. Blue T-shirt with Superman emblem on chest tucked into red underwear…Check. Last but certainly not least, cape…Check.
It wasn’t long after dawning myself in my superhero regalia, flying a couple rounds through the house and humming the superman theme tune that I found my first opportunity to rescue a citizen in distress. The problem: Bike accident. The victim: An older neighborhood boy. The villain: Neighbors mailbox
In no time flat I went from looking out the kitchen window to running out the front door; arms outstretched…still humming the superman theme. I was up…up…and away! It was a great feeling. I was a superhero and I was doing what superheros do…save lives. I ran…err…flew over to the boy as fast as I could, bent down and in as mature a voice as I could manage, asked the boy if he was OK.
Now you have to understand that the next set of events is etched into my memory clearer than the events described above. Follow me as I relive it for you…
I’m looking over at this boy who was, to me, a lot older (probably 9 or 10). He hasn’t even looked at me as he is too concerned and focused on his skinned up knee. He’s holding back tears in an effort to be a big boy. As any superhero would…I begin grabbing the boys arm and his ‘good’ leg in an effort to pick him up and take him to the comforting arms of his father…not even taking into consideration that he is at least 25 pounds heavier than myself.
It soon becomes apparent that my picking up the boy is not going to happen so I take a step back to reassess the situation. As I do…to the right…I hear the sound of bicycle peddles and rubber on concrete accompanied by the sound of growing laughter. I’m getting upset. How dare these four bullies laugh at this boy and his bike mishap? What? Oh my goodness! They aren’t laughing at the boy…they’re laughing at me. Even the hurt boy when he finally looks up at me begins to laugh. Why are they laughing? Don’t they know I’m superman?
I WAS Superman…until then. Then it hit me...I saw it. I saw it for the first time. I wasn’t a powerful superhero fighting crime and saving lives. I was outside in my underwear. I ran home. I ran home and I hid. Talk about a humiliating and disappointing slap in the face!
Twenty four years later and I still love helping people. The desire to save lives and be someone’s hero still burns inside. I don’t wear a costume or a cape…but my heart is still in the same place. Through the years I’ve had the opportunity to run to the rescue for the young, the elderly, the orphans, the widows, the incarcerated, and the homeless. I love doing it all but I’m now being faced with the sad realization that I'm no longer as strong as I once imagined I was and I'm quickly losing the power and ability to do any of it. I’m realizing once more that I'm outside in my underwear.
Just looking at me you may think, “He looks healthy enough “. Well, Thank you! But the truth is…It's all a facade. My reality is that my lungs are operating at 14% of their expected capacity. I’m a frail 110 pounds and lately the simplest of tasks have become a struggle.
The simple truth is… I now need a hero.
YOU CAN BE THAT HERO! YOU have the ability to save my life…literally. You can do it in a variety of ways.
FIRST and foremost I need your PRAYERS.
SECOND…Money. The procedure and post transplant medications are very expensive.
THIRD…Fundraisers. Help us with raising funds for the transplant and immuno-suppressant drugs.
FOURTH…Get the word out about my need for a new set of pipes
“A hero is a man (or woman) who does what he can.” – Romain Rolland
God Bless!
Joseph
I wasn’t just simply pretending to be superman now...It became real. No more make believe for this six year old. There’s only so much you can do with a towel….but with a cape…
Shortly after receiving the cape I convinced my mother to buy me a pair of red fruit of the looms with a yellow band. After that I somehow ended up with a superman logo t-shirt and, to top it all off, a pair of solid yellow knee high tube socks. Now I was fully aware that Superman’s boots were red…but when your six years old and you’ve got it that close…who cares? My costume was complete. Well…at least it was complete enough for me.
I remember one particular Saturday going to my phone booth (closet) to turn myself into Superman. Yellow socks pulled up to my knees to serve as boots…Check. Red underwear with yellow band…Check. Blue T-shirt with Superman emblem on chest tucked into red underwear…Check. Last but certainly not least, cape…Check.
It wasn’t long after dawning myself in my superhero regalia, flying a couple rounds through the house and humming the superman theme tune that I found my first opportunity to rescue a citizen in distress. The problem: Bike accident. The victim: An older neighborhood boy. The villain: Neighbors mailbox
In no time flat I went from looking out the kitchen window to running out the front door; arms outstretched…still humming the superman theme. I was up…up…and away! It was a great feeling. I was a superhero and I was doing what superheros do…save lives. I ran…err…flew over to the boy as fast as I could, bent down and in as mature a voice as I could manage, asked the boy if he was OK.
Now you have to understand that the next set of events is etched into my memory clearer than the events described above. Follow me as I relive it for you…
I’m looking over at this boy who was, to me, a lot older (probably 9 or 10). He hasn’t even looked at me as he is too concerned and focused on his skinned up knee. He’s holding back tears in an effort to be a big boy. As any superhero would…I begin grabbing the boys arm and his ‘good’ leg in an effort to pick him up and take him to the comforting arms of his father…not even taking into consideration that he is at least 25 pounds heavier than myself.
It soon becomes apparent that my picking up the boy is not going to happen so I take a step back to reassess the situation. As I do…to the right…I hear the sound of bicycle peddles and rubber on concrete accompanied by the sound of growing laughter. I’m getting upset. How dare these four bullies laugh at this boy and his bike mishap? What? Oh my goodness! They aren’t laughing at the boy…they’re laughing at me. Even the hurt boy when he finally looks up at me begins to laugh. Why are they laughing? Don’t they know I’m superman?
I WAS Superman…until then. Then it hit me...I saw it. I saw it for the first time. I wasn’t a powerful superhero fighting crime and saving lives. I was outside in my underwear. I ran home. I ran home and I hid. Talk about a humiliating and disappointing slap in the face!
Twenty four years later and I still love helping people. The desire to save lives and be someone’s hero still burns inside. I don’t wear a costume or a cape…but my heart is still in the same place. Through the years I’ve had the opportunity to run to the rescue for the young, the elderly, the orphans, the widows, the incarcerated, and the homeless. I love doing it all but I’m now being faced with the sad realization that I'm no longer as strong as I once imagined I was and I'm quickly losing the power and ability to do any of it. I’m realizing once more that I'm outside in my underwear.
Just looking at me you may think, “He looks healthy enough “. Well, Thank you! But the truth is…It's all a facade. My reality is that my lungs are operating at 14% of their expected capacity. I’m a frail 110 pounds and lately the simplest of tasks have become a struggle.
The simple truth is… I now need a hero.
YOU CAN BE THAT HERO! YOU have the ability to save my life…literally. You can do it in a variety of ways.
FIRST and foremost I need your PRAYERS.
SECOND…Money. The procedure and post transplant medications are very expensive.
THIRD…Fundraisers. Help us with raising funds for the transplant and immuno-suppressant drugs.
FOURTH…Get the word out about my need for a new set of pipes
“A hero is a man (or woman) who does what he can.” – Romain Rolland
God Bless!
Joseph
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Looking for 40
We are trying to raise the initial $100,000 for Joseph's transplant and we need YOUR help! :)
We are looking for 40 individuals to be a part of our "Fundraising Team" to help us reach our goal! The idea is that each person will conduct their own fundraiser(s) to raise $2,500.
40 x $2,500 = $100,000!! The power of multiplication is AMAZING! :)
Working TOGETHER, I know that we can reach our goal!! We would LOVE to raise this initial goal of $100,000 by the end of October!! I know we can do it!!
SO FAR, we have 19 people who have stepped up to the plate!! Thank you ALL so much!! 21 more to go!!
If you would like to help us by joining our team: comment to this blog, send us a message on our Facebook fan page, or email us at info@lungs4joseph.com.
Here are some ideas for fundraisers:
* letter writing (we have a template you can use)
* church fundraiser/ love offering (we have a video you can show during a service)
* change containers in local businesses, churches, etc.
* road blocks
* bake sale
* pot-luck supper or spaghetti dinner
* car wash
* krispy kreme donut fundraiser
* product sales (through catalogs, etc.)
* garage sale
* raffles
* benefit concerts
* auctions
* school fundraising
* spirit days at restaurants (example: Chik-fil-A)
* house parties (Pampered Chef, Lia Sophia, Arbonne, Avon, Mary Kay...)
* ??? Your own creative idea!! ???
Thank you ALL so much for helping us!! You are helping to save Joseph's life and I can never thank you enough! I am so excited at the possibilities this lung transplant is going to give us! I can't wait to see what our future holds! Thank YOU for making that future a possibility for us!!!
We love you all!
~Kayse
We are looking for 40 individuals to be a part of our "Fundraising Team" to help us reach our goal! The idea is that each person will conduct their own fundraiser(s) to raise $2,500.
40 x $2,500 = $100,000!! The power of multiplication is AMAZING! :)
Working TOGETHER, I know that we can reach our goal!! We would LOVE to raise this initial goal of $100,000 by the end of October!! I know we can do it!!
SO FAR, we have 19 people who have stepped up to the plate!! Thank you ALL so much!! 21 more to go!!
If you would like to help us by joining our team: comment to this blog, send us a message on our Facebook fan page, or email us at info@lungs4joseph.com.
Here are some ideas for fundraisers:
* letter writing (we have a template you can use)
* church fundraiser/ love offering (we have a video you can show during a service)
* change containers in local businesses, churches, etc.
* road blocks
* bake sale
* pot-luck supper or spaghetti dinner
* car wash
* krispy kreme donut fundraiser
* product sales (through catalogs, etc.)
* garage sale
* raffles
* benefit concerts
* auctions
* school fundraising
* spirit days at restaurants (example: Chik-fil-A)
* house parties (Pampered Chef, Lia Sophia, Arbonne, Avon, Mary Kay...)
* ??? Your own creative idea!! ???
Thank you ALL so much for helping us!! You are helping to save Joseph's life and I can never thank you enough! I am so excited at the possibilities this lung transplant is going to give us! I can't wait to see what our future holds! Thank YOU for making that future a possibility for us!!!
We love you all!
~Kayse
Thank You!
I just wanted to thank...
CJ's HOT DOGS in McDonough and also GEZZO'S GRILL in McDonough for both of your continued support in helping to raise funds for my new lungs!
Also...I would like to thank LISA KELLY for all of your hard work in printing the Lungs4Joseph t-shirts!!! I am sooo humbled!
Also...I want to thank the UPS STORE in McDonough for graciously donating a mailbox for Lungs4Joseph for a year!
Your love, care, prayers and support amazes me! Thank you! God Bless!!!
- Joseph
CJ's HOT DOGS in McDonough and also GEZZO'S GRILL in McDonough for both of your continued support in helping to raise funds for my new lungs!
Also...I would like to thank LISA KELLY for all of your hard work in printing the Lungs4Joseph t-shirts!!! I am sooo humbled!
Also...I want to thank the UPS STORE in McDonough for graciously donating a mailbox for Lungs4Joseph for a year!
Your love, care, prayers and support amazes me! Thank you! God Bless!!!
- Joseph
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Thank You Glad Tidings Assembly of God!!!
Thank you Glad Tidings for having us this morning! We love you all so much! Ya'll are family to us, and we are so thankful to have you in our lives! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share about our cause and for your very generous donations! Because of your generosity and love, we know that Joseph will be around for many more years to come!!
Speaking of Joseph... the last couple of days have been kind of rough for him. He's been running fevers off and on, and has been very congested. He's only been home from the hospital for a few weeks, and he's already thinking he will be needing to go back again for another "tune up" very soon.
We cannot wait for the time when he will get that phone call that his new lungs are available! No more lung infections or hospital stays... no more hacking and coughing.... he will finally be able to breathe... run... climb stairs... swim... dance... and LIVE his life!! All of this will be possible BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU!! Thank you so much again! We love you!
~Kayse
Speaking of Joseph... the last couple of days have been kind of rough for him. He's been running fevers off and on, and has been very congested. He's only been home from the hospital for a few weeks, and he's already thinking he will be needing to go back again for another "tune up" very soon.
We cannot wait for the time when he will get that phone call that his new lungs are available! No more lung infections or hospital stays... no more hacking and coughing.... he will finally be able to breathe... run... climb stairs... swim... dance... and LIVE his life!! All of this will be possible BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU!! Thank you so much again! We love you!
~Kayse
Saturday, August 15, 2009
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