Pay It Forward

In January it will be one year of when Kayden had his heart surgery down at Primary Children's. I remember a couple of hours before he was scheduled to go in to surgery, the surgeon was going over all the risks of this surgery and that we would be updated every hour of how the procedure was going. As Kayden was wheeled off I didn't know where to turn, my baby was being wheeled into a room where I couldn't see him, help him, or even know if he would be back with us again on this earth. As Dave and I walked down the long hallway alone we just held on to each other and cried.

We sat in a room and waited and waited and waited (something you do a lot in the PICU). There was no way we were leaving the room to get or do anything. Luckily some friends of ours, the Bitter's, gave us a basket of some things we might have needed as we stayed in the hospital. It was so helpful as it had so many things in it to help us not have to leave the hospital. Dave and I knew at that point we wanted to do something in one year as a reminder to always PAY IT FORWARD and give to others as we were helped numerous times in Primary Children's from so many family and friends.


Many people end up in PCMC with no warning, no time to grab things they need, they just go. Recently this happened to my friend Ashley Sullenger as she lost her little girl Preslee. (http://patrickandashley.blogspot.com/) With Preslee's birthday coming up in December she wanted to do something to give back on her birthday, Pay It Forward. We decided to combine our thoughts and create Preslee's Present.


I've been in contact with PCMC and they have 42 beds in the PICU. Our goal is to have a basket full of "the essentials for living in the PICU" for every single one of them. I think we can do it, but we'll need some help. As of right now were waiting to hear back from PCMC, with what items are allowed to be placed in the baskets. Once we find out we'll let you know a list of things. We'll need help with donations, items like granola bars, chap stick, or fleece blankets. We'll also need help putting them together.


So I now ask you, have you ever been helped while in need, or touched by someone? If you have, Pay It Forward. Think how different the world would be if everyone served just one person. Be part of something and serve to give. Hopefully we'll see many of you on that day making a difference.


Love, The Beckstrand's and Sullenger's