Friday ended up being a very interesting and full day for the kids. They went to school in the morning and we picked them up at noon. We had been called earlier in the week to do a quick interview with Jason Glenn from the Bellevue Leader to do a story on TJ's CMN selection. We stopped at the Leader's office on our way to the Bellevue Walmart. The Leader was interested primarily because of the aspect that the Bellevue Walmart had sold the largest number of the CMN balloons and that is why the kickoff celebration was to be at their Walmart. Not sure when a story will run but we will watch out for it. In between all of this, we did a phone interview with Michael O' Connor with the Omaha World-Herald. We got to the Walmart a little early and found the area for the announcement pretty easily. It was in the wide aisle area between the registers and the clothing. The area was decorated with balloons with the CMN colors. A large banner with TJ's picture was hung behind two draped tables. And to the left of the tables was a flipchart stand with a great poster welcoming everybody to the celebration and a copy of TJ's picture from Children's Hospitals "Visions" magazine. Somebody or somebodies spent a lot of time creating it. A very festive atmosphere. As we approached the table we were met warmly by Chris, the Walmart manager. Cherie Lytle from Children's joined us and as we were talking, I noticed the kids were gone..I had assumed that they had wandered off. In actuality, Chris had taken the kids to the bike area and informed the kids that they had their choice of bikes. The next thing I knew, the kids were walking toward us with huge beaming smiles walking their new bikes. A total surprise and just the start. As we got closer to the start time of 2:30pm, more and more people collectively showed up and started grouping around the tables. Cake arrived and media people started setting up their cameras. Some of our family members came. Kaitlyn and TJ's grandparents, Ernie and Carol, aunts Kathy and Ann as well as their cousin (whom they totally adore) Hannah. Jane and Alyssa from Children's Foundation arrived as wwll. I was surprised and pleased to see one of TJ's favorite Doctor, Dr. Jeff DeMare come He brought his wife, Carmen and their adorable two kids. It was touching to watch them with TJ...especially when Andrew asked for TJ's autograph on his picture. The kids also gave TJ a Children's Hospital T-Shirt with the new Hospital and Medical Center logo to wear on his trip. Another big surprise was to see one of our favorite nurses from TJ's stay in the PICU, "Supernova Kim". Even though we had not seen her since TJ got out, she will always have a warm spot in our hearts (along with countless others @ Children's). Numerous Walmart associates started grouping together and the announcement was started by Chris, the store manager. He talked about Walmart's relationship with the Children's Miracle Network...They raised over 15 million last year, and $460 million in 21 years for the CMN. All this with sale of the paper balloons. Amazing. Jane Phillips from the Children's Hospital Foundation then spoke about Children's and TJ's selection as Nebraska's Champion. Then Chris introduced the top seller of balloons from their store (and unfortunately I didn't get her name) who in turn surprised the kids with a $500 gift card from Walmart. It was obvious to all that she was very affected by all of this. I was pretty touched. At this point, I was introduced...and almost from the start I almost lost it. I had TJ in front of me and had my arms on his chest...and all my thoughts went out of my head. Usually, I can talk in front of a group like this, but even after a year, it's hard to talk about what TJ went through... so needless to say (and fortunately for everyone else) I didn't talk long. Going into this, I wasn't sure what to expect but it was a very nice announcement. We got to spend time afterwards taking many pictures and talking to everyone...although most of the Walmart associates went right back to work. It is embarrassing in a way all of the attention. The kids getting the bikes and the gift card's were TOTALLY unnecessary. We have talked it out...and we will be getting things for the kids school, St. Stephens and also talking to what the child life specialist's needs are @ Children's. That evening we watched the coverage on the local news and woke up this morning to a nice story on TJ in the Omaha World-Herald. http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10586445 It is going to be hard to thank each and every person involved with all of this. Here are some of the pictures. I don't have pictures of all of us with the Walmart associates on this camera...I will have to get them from other people who had cameras there. Have a great weekend. Tim
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