7 YEARS OLD

Jadon’s diagnosis ripped our dreams up into tiny little pieces and tossed them to the wind.  SMA took our dreams and left us to hope for things that were merely expectations prior to those 3 letters entering our lives.

We have dreamed about milestones like living to be six months old, a year, and then two years.  Beyond 2 years was categorized as miracle territory.  Only 10% of kids diagnosed with the #1 genetic killer live to celebrate their second birthday.  While we wished for a miracle we prepared ourselves for disappointment as the odds were so heavily stacked against him.

With our dreams being reduced to such short sightedness you can imagine our surprised joy when discussions began about Jadon attending school.  Jadon was thriving and we started to dream again.  We allowed ourselves to dream about something we had truly given up on.

With that dream came a new worry.  We spent his first 3 years worrying the gravest of worries, but this one was new.

Jadon is different from other kids and his differences are somewhat less than subtle.  We worried how he would he be viewed by the outside world?  Would he make friends?  Would he be bullied?  Could he possibly be accepted?

All we ever prayed for was acceptance, but we have gotten so much more.

We have been blessed beyond recognition.  I truly hope our family is not even recognized as a family with a terminally ill child because he is living life to the fullest.

Jadon has not simply been accepted but truly valued.  The kids genuinely love him and that awesomeness brings tears to our eyes.

One day this spring Mrs Green read a book to Jadon’s first grade class about how everyone is good at something.  After reading the book the kids did an exercise where they paired up and told their partner something they are good at.  Being Jadon’s voice I struggled to come up with something these young minds would understand.  Most of the kids spoke of activities such as soccer, baseball, baking, or singing.

I settled on “Jadon is good at making others happy.”

To my surprise this brought the BIGGEST smile to his partners face.  With the most incredible enthusiasm she exclaimed “I KNOW!  EVERYONE wants to be around Jadon.”  Daddy had a little moment right there in class because she made me realize it really is true.  Kids fought to be Jadon’s partner all year long.  Rarely does someone walk by us in the hall and not say “Hi Jadon” or at least give a silent finger wave.  Kids are doing fundraisers in honor of Jadon.  They do class projects about SMA.  They have not simply accepted him but embraced him for all that he is.

Jadon turned 7 years old today and we have no idea what the future holds.  We will continue to take each day as it comes and only allow ourselves to look just so far into the future.  What we do know is that our son has been blessed by some amazing people: teachers, administrators, students, classmates, teammates, neighbors and strangers… all of them now friends.

Happy Birthday Jadon!  You are truly loved.

Pictures from The BUG RUN 2016

For more pictures of this amazing day visit the facebook page of our amazing photographer Shauna Renee Photography – CLICK HERE

 

2 More Sleeps Until The BUG RUN

We have been following Katie Horner’s Mission over the past several months ( Woman on a Mission) and it is all about to come to a conclusion.  It has been an emotional journey to see her work so hard and reach her goals while constantly thinking of others. Her objectives are just two days from being completed.

COMPLETE –  Raise enough money for all the students at Rolling Ridge to run The BUG RUN.

COMPLETE – Run The Boston Marathon.

REMAINING – RunThe BUG RUN and show ALL 485 students at Rolling Ridge what it means to run for a cause…”RUN to end SMA.”

This is an update from Katie today:

“2 more sleeps” as my son Hunter, who is the same age as Jadon and share the birthday month of June together, would say until the 4th Annual Jadon’s Hope Bug Run!

Today, like many days, was another day at Rolling Ridge where excitement filled the air! Our students received their race shirts and bibs. On top of that excitement, we decided to have an all school picture. So, with about 480 kids plus numerous staff members, we all went out to the playground first thing this morning to smile in the sun as a community! A community that shows compassion, spreads awareness of SMA, stands together, works together towards many common goals, and supports one another! We are truly blessed and could not have done that without the support from this campaign and the support of the entire staff at Rolling Ridge pulling together to make this happen.

I leave you with some quotes that were heard from our students at various times today. Some of which I heard and others that were passed on to me.

“Hold up, we get our OWN number?!?!”

“My number is 246 or maybe it was 146, I don’t know, but either way I have a number!”

“You have the same shirt on that I do…(long pause), wait we all have the same shirt!”

“Mrs. Horner, I am running for Charlie, who are you running for? Are you running for a Warrior or an Angel? I hope they find a cure so there are no more angels.”

Together, WE RUN TO END SMA!

The Fabulous Miss G, Forever In Our Hearts

Whenever we suffer a loss in our SMA family, it is hard.  And each one has its own affect on us.  We reside in a world that we wish with every fiber of our being didn’t exist.  A world where little ones become angels far too soon and parents have to say good-bye to their precious babies.  But this one, this one just crushed us.  Gwendolyn is very special to us as are Bill, Victoria and little sis, Eleanora.  Over the years and despite the many miles that separate us, an amazing bond, connection, friendship has grown.  We have celebrated with each other, worried and cried with each other, laughed with each other, lifted each other up, helped each other out and leaned on each other.  We have just been there for each other.

And Jadon and Gwendolyn?  Well, they were boyfriend and girlfriend.  Whenever Bug saw a picture of Miss G his eyes would get as big as saucers, he would purse his little lips and get major “happy belly.”  And when Miss G saw Jadon, she would bat those gorgeous long lashes and tap, tap, tap her finger.  He was her blue-eyed boyfriend and she was his fabulous Miss G.  Everywhere you look in Jadon’s bedroom, there is something from Gwendolyn.  Multiple pics that adorn his shelves.  The turtle she gave him years ago that to this day he insists is turned on at night.  The blanket that he loves to have his feet snuggled up in.  Valentine’s Day cards she made him.  Treasures she picked out for him during trips to Disney.  Pout-Pout Fish books.  Tickle Monster book.  She is there.

Whenever we would go out on adventures and Jadon got a souvenir, he insisted that Miss G would get one too.  Always something blue for him.  Purple for her.  Early in their “courtship”, Jadon found out that a little boy had given Miss G a flower while at a playground.  That simply wouldn’t do and he made sure Miss G had an even bigger purple flower from him.

To profess his love for Miss G, Jadon even got a little ink.

And it worked!

Earlier this year, I was blessed to be able to spend some time with Bill, Victoria, Gwendolyn and Eleanora when I traveled out to California for business.  It was magical – a moment when you hoped time would just stand still.  And as the sun began to set and night fell, I didn’t want the evening to end.  I wanted to soak up every second because I didn’t know the next time we would see each other again.  When we finally had to say our good-byes, I raced to my room to call Tony.  I told him we HAD to figure out a way for all of us to get together.  For Jadon and Gwendolyn to meet.  Unfortunately, that never happened.  Just one more thing SMA has robbed from our kiddos.

When Bill called early Saturday morning, our hearts shattered into a million pieces.  The wind knocked out of us.  How could this be possible?  My knees buckled as I crumbled into a heap onto the floor.  This is NOT supposed to be happening.  It simply wasn’t fair.

Ever since Jadon was little, he would randomly look into the corners of the room and jabber/chat.  We firmly believe he is talking to his angels watching over him.  Throughout the rest of the day on Saturday, we struggled with how to tell Jadon about his fabulous Miss G.  We desperately fought off tears anytime we were face-to-face with him.  As we got him settled in his room to begin nighttime treatments, we finally mustered up enough courage.  We told him we had some very sad news to share.  He looked at us very seriously and with his eyes said “Yes.”  We said, it’s about Miss G.  Again “Yes.”  We asked him, do you already know?  This time BIG, BIG “Yes.”  We asked, have you been talking to Miss G?  Another BIG, BIG “Yes.”  He had been chatting earlier in his room during his chill-time.  We should have known he already had a very special visitor come by to let him know she was okay and would be watching over him.  Even now these two have an incredible bond that will always be there.  We take some comfort knowing that the fabulous Miss G is continuing to watch over him and be with him.  

The world was a better place with Gwendolyn Strong in it.

The world is a better place because she lived.

We are better because of Gwendolyn’s life and we will always carry a part of Miss G  with us.

We will Never Give Up.

We are… G-STRONG.

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Jadon is SIX + a few weeks

Jadon is 6 years old…plus a few weeks.

Jadon turned six on the 25^th of June and a funny thing happened this year – we were busy.  We were busy LIVING life.  We celebrate our big hero every single day and we have always gone BIG for his birthday month, but this one kind of snuck up on us.  We forewent the big party for a gathering with a few of his close friends.  And what fun they had!

This year, we celebrated his birthday by going bowling – a first for Bug.  Afterwards, we all went out for pizza where he opened presents and then proceeded to take a nap…at the restaurant.  Phew, partying can sure wear a kid out!   The Saturday following his birthday was Bad News Bears baseball and for the third year in a row Jadon ran the bases with his team.  Following the homerun trot his team sang happy birthday to him at home plate.  This is definitely a highlight of the whole year.

 

The pure miracle of Jadon doesn’t come to mind on a day to day basis.  It is the milestones where we stop and look around at where we are.

SIX YEARS.

Three times the prognosis of SMA Type 1.  The really strange thing is that these days seem to be our best days yet.  We don’t like to say too much positive stuff in fear that SMA will rear its ugly head reminding us of its horrible power over our lives.  So, we’ll say it softly, just once…he’s doing awesome.

Jadon has completed kindergarten and will be entering the 1^st grade this fall.  He has friends from school, friends from baseball, and even has friends who come to read to him in the summertime.  Not to mention all of his friends across the country, ones he has met in person and others on-line.  He loves baseball, being outside, playing games, watching movies and rolling his eyes at his little sister’s crazy antics.  He is a six year old little boy.

 

A week before Jadon’s birthday was the national SMA conference which was held right here in Kansas City.  This was an incredible experience as we got to see many families we already knew and others we had never met.  There were many families who have been fighting longer than us, families who had just been diagnosed and families that look forward to one day seeing their loved ones in heaven.  It is something to see families at all these different stages of the SMA journey.

We have been fighting this fight for almost six years and when we hear someone say they just got diagnosed it takes us right back to THAT day.

On this day (July 16th) six years ago Jadon was 3 weeks old and we were yet to hear the words Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  We were yet to have our lives turned upside down.  We were yet to understand how strong our hero would have to be.  How strong we would have to be.  Jadon has been through a lot in six years.  There have been some extremely scary days that we thought would be our last but there have been far more beautiful days.  Days where his eyes sparkle just a little brighter.  Days when the faint giggle on his breathe is a little louder.  So many days that we thought we would never have.  So while the SMA storm rages on within our life we will continue to find new ways to “Dance in the Rain”.

This Saturday, Jadon is going fishing with his buddies…..another first.

The Birthday Haul

BUG RUN 2015 pics

The 2015 BUG RUN was held on April 11th.  We continue to be amazed at the turnout as well as with the overall atmosphere of the event.  The BUG RUN has become a gathering of the community and the support is nothing short of overwhelming.  From all of our sponsors to all of those who participate, the love for Jadon and the fight against SMA is evident.  Acts of kindness abound and one small example is the fact that all of Jadon’s Kindergarten class registered for the run.  An anonymous donor paid for those who would not otherwise been able to attend.  It is because of gestures like this that we are constantly talking about how blessed we are with those who God has chosen to surround us with.

We are already looking forward to next years run and looking for ways to make it even bigger and better.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!

 

Jadon- “The BUG”

SMA Mommas and their Warriors – Kaden & The BUG

The National Anthem

I Run In Honor Cards
SMA Warrior & Angels

Patrick Fazio from Action 41 News & Rocket from 93.3 The Mix

 

 

 

IT WAS A VERY VERY GOOD DAY

 

A Difficult Reminder: Why We Fight and Why We Dance.

At every event Jadon’s Hope has hosted, we honor SMA kiddos from across the country.  These kids are the entire reason we do anything and everything we do as a foundation.  We feel it is incredibly important for our supporters to know who they are fighting for.  Simple cards showing bright, smiling faces that highlight very complex lives.  Faces of our courageous Warriors and Angels.

As we get caught up in event planning, inevitably these cards are put off until the last moment and it begins to feel like a task that simply needs completion.  However, the “burden of completing the task” is always overtaken by the honor of the fight.

There always seems to be that moment.  That moment when the work disappears and the shining faces touch our souls.  Suddenly, we understand that we are lucky to know these kids, to understand these kids, and so very lucky to fight for these kids.  We fight to make a better world for those fighting SMA and to one day see a world where SMA does not exist.

That moment often triggers the waterworks.  This year, the sweaty eyes were uncontrollable when one particular card was created.  Brianna has been a smiling warrior for each of our events.  We met Brianna on Facebook shortly after Jadon’s diagnosis and she was always a great source of information and overwhelming inspiration. We were blessed to meet Brianna in person while in Madison WI over two years ago. Living close to Madison, Brianna and her family would often travel there to meet SMA families who traveled to see SMA specialist Dr. Schroth.  When she learned we would be there for Jadon’s trach surgery, she insisted upon coming to the hospital to meet him.  Brianna was a spitfire and seeing her Facebook posts, her smiling face and constant words of encouragement were a gentle reminder of who we should strive to be.

Brianna’s title changed from Warrior to Angel on January 13^th of this year.  She finished her race against SMA here on earth and flew home to be with her creator.  The task of typing Angel beside her name was too much to hold back the emotions.  As SMA parents we know without a cure, that inevitable day will come, but we try not to think about it.  Let me tell you, it doesn’t work.  Brianna lived on this earth for 15 years and showed us all how to live and love.  She reminded us that all it takes is one to make a difference in the lives of so many.  She reminded us that life lessons are NOT always taught by adults.  She showed us how to Dance in the Rain and she will never be forgotten.

We will continue to run in her honor.

Elementary School Spreads SMA Awareness Across the Country and Around the World

The SMA community is constantly trying to spread awareness for a disease that most have never heard of.  SMA is relatively unknown despite being #1 genetic killer of children under two.  We are always looking for unique and creative ways to help get people informed.  When Mrs. Sheldon, the librarian at Rolling Ridge Elementary School (school Jadon attends) came to us with her Flat Stanley idea, we were overwhelmed with her creativity and enthusiasm as well as the potential “reach” of this project.

We feel Mrs. Sheldon explains it best in this short video:

All 450 students at Rolling Ridge Elementary have read a funny book titled, Flat Stanley, written by Jeff Brown.  The book is about a young boy named Stanley Lambchop.  He is accidentally squished “as flat as a pancake” when a bulletin board falls on him.  Stanley is fine, except for the fact he is very flat.  Stanley discovers some advantages to being flat.  He can slide under doors, go into sidewalk grates, and even fold himself up small enough to fit into an envelope.  When Stanley wanted to visit friends in California, his parents folded him up and placed him in the mail.

All the students made their own Flat Stanley and they have been sent near and far.  Accompanying each Flat Stanley is an SMA warrior or angel.  Over 100 SMA kiddos are represented!

The project is simple, when someone receives a packet we simply ask that they take their Flat Stanley and SMA Warrior/Angel on some adventures. Take them to fun, exciting places, hang out with you at the movies or just have them at Christmas dinner but make sure to take pictures and send the pictures back so we can see where they have been.  We hope to have pictures from all over the world.  Pictures can be emailed to:  flatsrr@olatheschools.org

Here is another blog telling what we want you to know about SMA: SMA Awareness – What We Want You to Know

Many Flat Stanleys and SMA Warriors/Angels have already been out doing some pretty awesome things.  Check out these adventures!

 

Old Settlers Parade

The Johnson County Old Settlers Parade is the largest parade in the state of Kansas. It has an average of 160 entries, including 16 area High School and Middle School bands, numerous club and organization entries and several commercial floats. The parade is attended by between 65,000 and 75,000 people.  Jadon’s Hope Foundation entered a float themed “Dancing in the Rain”.

The day was a perfect sunny 70 degrees.  JHF supporters walked with the float while SMA warriors Jadon, Arturo, and Amira road along.  3,000 SMA fact cards and over 100 t-shirts were handed out to the crowd.  It was a perfect day.

A big giant THANK YOU to all the walkers and riders who helped spread SMA awareness.

D-Day #5

2009

Today marks 5 years since we received the most devastating news parents could receive.  This is D-Day or Diagnosis Day.  The day all the hopes and dreams we had for Jadon were shattered.  In 2010 and 2011, this day was marked with a lot of sorrow and mourning.  Mourning the loss of what was meant to be.

But as the years have progressed, we don’t fear today as much as we did.  Don’t get us wrong, there is still pain and will always be mourning, but as Jadon has continued to overcome insurmountable obstacles we focus on the good.

We focus on what he has accomplished.

We focus on the immense love and joy he has brought to our family.

We focus on the impact he has on so many.

We focus on dancing in the rain.

Over the years, we have learned that the purpose God has for Jadon far exceeds what we had shaped in our minds 5 years ago.  We will continue to trust and follow with Jadon leading the way.  We will continue to have faith and know that love and hope truly does endure all.

Today also marks an even bigger reason for attention –Jadon is officially 5 years and 2 months old.  Amazing! Keep fighting sweet boy.  We love you so much Bug and are so incredibly proud of you!!