TJ’s Children’s Miracle Network Trip – Day 3, Part 1 of 2
Hello again. Today is going to be a full day. TJ’s day started early. He and I had to do a radio interview with a radio station from back home in Omaha, KXKT-The Kat 103.7. Linda and Kaitlyn slept in. We get to the hallway where the media is set up and there must be 30-40 radio stations there. Most of them were doing their morning drive show shows from here. We met Gina (and her husband) and Craig from the Kat’s morning team. Very nice people and they made TJ and I feel pretty comfortable. Allyssa from the Omaha Children’s Hospital Foundation was also here in Orlando and got to talk to her between interviews. We met a lot of people right off just going down the row of radio stations doing interviews. The first interview was with Mary Lou Retton. She honestly isn’t that much taller than TJ. Mary Lou is going to be the keynote speaker for the general session this morning. Then TJ and I did our interview which I think went very well. TJ was still a little tired and quiet but took direction well and even got to say hello to his class and his first grade teacher Mrs. Malone. He is going to get razzed because he didn’t say hello to his grandparents who were listening back in Omaha. Then we got to meet John Schneider and Steve Young for their interviews. And then Mark Wills, a country artist who was very personable came to do his interview and wanted TJ involved. He has got a great way with kids and got TJ to talk a little and smile a lot. Gave TJ an autographed CD and picture. TJ and Mark will be doing another interview together on Tuesday w/ KXKT again from Washington. Mark is also emceeing the awards portion of the keynote session and told TJ that when TJ came out he was going to hold his hand as high as he could and TJ was to jump and give him five. I did get pictures of TJ with all of them and also some autographs and will try to post them.
The next event was the opening session. All of the Champions and their families were situated in a ballroom next to the main ballroom and we watched the meeting on a large screen. In the other room were representatives from all of the sponsors talking about all that the CMN does, fundraising plans and long term plans for the future. Mary Lou gave a great motivational speech about what got her the gold in gymnastics at the ’84 Olympics and also her reason for being involved with the CMN for over 20 years. We then left all of the Champions and went to the main ballroom for the Awards Presentation to the Champions. I don’t know what expectations I had going into this bit I know I didn’t think I would get this emotional. It was hard seeing kid after kid get introduced and know what kind of turmoil and stresses they and their families have gone through. Going through what we did with TJ really gave us a lot of empathy with the other families. The kids did so well going across the stage, getting hugs from Miss America and Mark Wills and getting their award medals around their neck and turning and waving to the crowd. Linda said TJ looked so cute, I thought he looked like a stud. He showed no sign of any nervousness…it was a huge stage to walk across all by yourself, with a huge audience, tons of lights, loud music and multiple TV cameras and his image projected on large screens. He did great. And yes, Mark held his hand high and TJ did a great jump to give him a high five. All of this would be very intimidating to me and I do this for a living. It really was a very moving experience. The ceremony ended with a parade of all of the champions across the stage. I wish you all could meet these kids. I’m hoping we at least get a DVD of the awards portion of the ceremony. It is one of those moments in life you would watch over and over again.
Hello again. Today is going to be a full day. TJ’s day started early. He and I had to do a radio interview with a radio station from back home in Omaha, KXKT-The Kat 103.7. Linda and Kaitlyn slept in. We get to the hallway where the media is set up and there must be 30-40 radio stations there. Most of them were doing their morning drive show shows from here. We met Gina (and her husband) and Craig from the Kat’s morning team. Very nice people and they made TJ and I feel pretty comfortable. Allyssa from the Omaha Children’s Hospital Foundation was also here in Orlando and got to talk to her between interviews. We met a lot of people right off just going down the row of radio stations doing interviews. The first interview was with Mary Lou Retton. She honestly isn’t that much taller than TJ. Mary Lou is going to be the keynote speaker for the general session this morning. Then TJ and I did our interview which I think went very well. TJ was still a little tired and quiet but took direction well and even got to say hello to his class and his first grade teacher Mrs. Malone. He is going to get razzed because he didn’t say hello to his grandparents who were listening back in Omaha. Then we got to meet John Schneider and Steve Young for their interviews. And then Mark Wills, a country artist who was very personable came to do his interview and wanted TJ involved. He has got a great way with kids and got TJ to talk a little and smile a lot. Gave TJ an autographed CD and picture. TJ and Mark will be doing another interview together on Tuesday w/ KXKT again from Washington. Mark is also emceeing the awards portion of the keynote session and told TJ that when TJ came out he was going to hold his hand as high as he could and TJ was to jump and give him five. I did get pictures of TJ with all of them and also some autographs and will try to post them.
The next event was the opening session. All of the Champions and their families were situated in a ballroom next to the main ballroom and we watched the meeting on a large screen. In the other room were representatives from all of the sponsors talking about all that the CMN does, fundraising plans and long term plans for the future. Mary Lou gave a great motivational speech about what got her the gold in gymnastics at the ’84 Olympics and also her reason for being involved with the CMN for over 20 years. We then left all of the Champions and went to the main ballroom for the Awards Presentation to the Champions. I don’t know what expectations I had going into this bit I know I didn’t think I would get this emotional. It was hard seeing kid after kid get introduced and know what kind of turmoil and stresses they and their families have gone through. Going through what we did with TJ really gave us a lot of empathy with the other families. The kids did so well going across the stage, getting hugs from Miss America and Mark Wills and getting their award medals around their neck and turning and waving to the crowd. Linda said TJ looked so cute, I thought he looked like a stud. He showed no sign of any nervousness…it was a huge stage to walk across all by yourself, with a huge audience, tons of lights, loud music and multiple TV cameras and his image projected on large screens. He did great. And yes, Mark held his hand high and TJ did a great jump to give him a high five. All of this would be very intimidating to me and I do this for a living. It really was a very moving experience. The ceremony ended with a parade of all of the champions across the stage. I wish you all could meet these kids. I’m hoping we at least get a DVD of the awards portion of the ceremony. It is one of those moments in life you would watch over and over again.
It is still so hard to believe we are here...and also what brought us to this point. It is hard to begin to tell you how special all of this is. I just don't know to begin to thanks anyone and everyone for all of this experience not only for myself but for the memories for TJ, Kaitlyn and Linda.
The rest of the day was free time – Our first time available to go to Disney World – I will post part two later. Tim
The rest of the day was free time – Our first time available to go to Disney World – I will post part two later. Tim
No comments:
Post a Comment