Showing posts with label duke university medical center. Show all posts

Monday, March 29, 2010

Representing CHERUBS and CDH Awareness at the 2010 Durham, NC "Great Human Race"

On Saturday, March 27th, CHERUBS members participated in the Triangle's Great Human Race. It is an annual 5k walk / run for local Raleigh - Durham non-profit organizations.

We had about 20 people represent CHERUBS and raise CDH awareness in honor or in memory of their cherubs! We even had an expectant mom who is 6 months pregnant join in! Families representing CHERUBS included Gene and Becky Hobbs in memory of Andrew Hobbs, Craig and Dawn Williamson in memory of Shane Torrence, and Kendrah Kidd and Chris Ward in honor of their cherub who is due this summer.

We had fun and we raised money for a good cause. The final numbers aren't in yet but we raised over $1200 in our first year in the event!!!! Not bad for walkers who literally finished LAST in the walk! :)

It was so wonderful to meet new families and spend time with old friends. Just walking and talking and knowing you're not going down the path alone can make such a huge difference to a CDH family!

It was a very successful event. One that we hope to participate in every year. A huge thank you to the family and friends of Andrew Hobbs for all their hard work and for bringing CHERUBS into this wonderful event!

On the way back from the race, Dawn got a chance to meet another CDH mom, Julie Younce, mom of CDH survivor Aaron!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

CHERUBS HOPE Totebag Project Delivers 1st Totebag to CDH Family

Our CHERUBS HOPE (Helping Other Parents Expecting) Totebag Project delivered our first tote bag in person on October 19th.

Dawn had the absolute pleasure of meeting the Hobbs family at Duke. Cherub Andrew is there fighting Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and on ECMO. He is absolutely adorable and such a little fighter moving his hands and feet and eyes while sedated! His wonderful parents, Gene and Becky, are so sweet and we hope to get to know them and watch Andrew grow. Thank you so much for letting us welcome your little guy into the world and welcome you into CHERUBS!

In all, we have delivered and mailed out 24 totebags to new and expectant CDH families so far! It's taken 2 years, a lot hard work, a lot of donations and a huge community effort by all CHERUBS members to get this project finally going and these bags finally mailed out and we are so very, very proud of how all of our members have worked together to help new CDH families!

So many CDH families have done so much to help this project without any desire for recognition, any need to put their own cherubs on pedastals or any other motives other that to help other CDH families. Their hearts only focused on giving and helping others.... there is no higher generousity than that!

"Everyone working as a team - together - CDH families helping other CDH families. That's the true spirit of the CDH community and I am so proud to know each one of you!! Your kindness and selflessness is so deeply appreciated and admired and all your work and love will pour out in this bags to help so many CDH families! Thank you!

THIS is why CHERUBS exist! This is what we're here for, why it was created, what our mission is. Days like today remind me of that. Just to see that beautiful little fellow fighting CDH and to try to let a family know that they aren't alone and to hopefully give them information and support. This is why we exist. I am so proud of our members" - Dawn Williamson, President & Founder of CHERUBS

We would like to thank the following who have either donated items for the bags** or helped to contribute to the CDH Baby Book:

- Alliance of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Organizations

- Amy Atkins - in honor of Faith Atkins

- Amy Miles - in memory of Faith Miles

- Amy Rademaker – in memory of Jonathan Rademaker

- Angie Finley - in honor of Tyler Finley

- Barbara Wagner – in honor of Logan Wagner

- Big Y Store

- BJ's Wholesale

- Boston Children’s Hospital

- Brenda Slavin – in memory of Amanda and Nicolas Slavin

- Brian Anthony

- Cathy Colvin - in memory of Kasey Colvin

- CHERUBS – The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness and Support

- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

- Christie Brooks - in memory of Madison Brooks

- Chuck and Kara Hess – in honor of Adam Hess

- Cindy Collins - in honor of Jason Collins

- Corin Nava – in memory of Gabrial Nava

- Craig Williamson – in memory of Shane Torrence

- Danielle Kessner – in memory of Alyssa Kessner

- Darcy Miller

- Darlene Silverman – in honor of Emily Daly

- Dawn Williamson – in memory of Shane Torrence

- Denise Dunfee.- in memory of Ryan Mudderman

- Denise Richer

- Elaine Moats – in honor of Kristin Moats

- Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati

- Gail Hyziak – in honor of Michael Hyziak

- Garret Williamson – in memory of Shane Torrence

- Iris Adame – in memory of Aileen Adame

- International CDH Study Group

- Jay Wilson, MD

- Jeanne Nava - in memory of Gabriel Nava

- Judi Toth – in memory of Christopher Toth

- Karla Holt – in honor of Braden Holt

- Kate Crawford - in memory of Shannon Crawford

- Kathy Shelton - in honor of Logan Wagner

- Kevin and Nicolle Colvin - in memory of Kasey Colvin

- Kim Richards – in memory of Olivia Richards

- Kim Switzer – in memory of Asher Switzer-McCoy

- Leah Koehn - in honor of Jacob Koehn

- Lesli Taylor, MD

- Maria LaFond Visscher – Abiding Hearts

- Michael Harrison, MD

- Pam Lally, MD

- Rachel Holt - in honor of Braden Holt

- Shana Kelly – in honor of Landon Kelly

- Shandi & Paige Cox – in memory of Caleb Cox

- Shauna Curtis - in honor of Addison Curtis

- Stephanie Olivarez - in honor of Shelby Olivarez

- Tamara Klein

- Tammy Spohr – in honor of Bryston Spohr

- Tara Hall – in honor of Brandon Hall

- The International CDH Study Group

- Theresa Wellman – in memory of Donnie Wellman

- Tyler Welch - in memory of Jamie Welch

- Wal-Mart

- Willie & Megan Skaggs – in memory of Michael Joseph “MJ” Skaggs

Learn more about our totebag project here - http://www.cdhsupport.org/donate/hope.php

Learn more about needed donations here -
http://cdhsupport.org/members/viewforum.php?f=237

*** We took over this project from a member. A lot of donations have not been properly accounted for. If you donated an item or money and are not listed above, please let us know!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Vote for Dawn Williamson & CHERUBS to help win $5,000 for charity!

http://www.qdobaqmmunity.com/Nominee/id/231/Dawn_Williamson

"Qdoba will donate $5,000 to that charity and a Starlight Fun Center mobile entertainment unit will be donated to a hospital in the winner's region in their name".

In this case, because CHERUBS isn't listed as one of the charities that we can donate to (they go through Charity Navigator - charities must receive a minimum of $500,000 in public donations a year to be listed. CHERUBS doesn't come close to that amount to be eligible to be listed).

BUT, if we win, Duke University Medical Center, an up and coming CDH Hospital, will receive the $5000 sponsor donation (made on behalf of CHERUBS) to benefit CDH families and research only.

So technically, CHERUBS (or Dawn) does not get a cent from this contest but CDH families will benefit if we win!!!!

And this is a great way to raise CDH Awareness! :)

You can vote once a day, every day. http://www.qdobaqmmunity.com/Nominee/id/231/Dawn_Williamson

Vote for Dawn Williamson & CHERUBS to help win $5,000 for charity!

Nominated by Dawn's husband

Dawn created CHERUBS - The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Advocacy and Support in 1995.

Dawn is the mom of Shane Torrence (1/28/93-9/11/99), born with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and multiple birth defects. CDH is a devastating birth defect that affects 1 in every 2500 babies. It occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. 50% of babies born with CDH do not survive. The cause is not known.

Immediately after Shane's birth and diagnosis, Dawn searched for a support group for CDH but there were none available that could help her. After spending hundreds of hours in the hospital's medical library and finding support only from parents met at the hospital, Dawn felt a great need for a CDH charity.

With the help of Shane's surgeon and friends made at the hospital, CHERUBS was started. CHERUBS is founded in memory of, and named for all CDH babies that do not survive.

She started CHERUBS at 22 years old with just a typewriter, kitchen table, $100.00 in donations, and 2 members. By 2009 CHERUBS has over 3000 members in 38 countries and is the world's largest and most active CDH organization raising awareness, supporting families and researching CDH.

CHERUBS offers CDH families over 50 services. From newsletters to on-line forums. From international conferences to local picnics. From CDH research studies to researching CDH in medical journals. Now, Dawn is fighting a trademark inhibiting CDH Awareness and has led the way to submit 2 bills to the U.S. Senate to raise CDH Research money and protect all causes from trademarks on awareness. Dawn has spent over a decade compiling every possible service to CDH families and it seems she will not stop until CDH is no more.

For the past 15 years Dawn has dedicated her life to helping families of children born with CDH. Through her own loss of her precious son and other tragedies, she has worked a full-time job and continued to volunteer up to 50 hours a week at CHERUBS. She is the heart and soul of the organization; planning events, fundraising, creating and delivering services, visiting families, running the web site, maintaining the research database and so much more. It is not uncommon for her take calls at 2 in the morning from distraught parents who just received a diagnosis or lost their child. She travels to conferences, paying out of her own pocket the expenses just to reach more families. She gives interviews to the media, has advised television shows about CDH and runs the charity's on-line marketing campaign. When there are not enough donations to pay a bill, she will cover the cost herself, determined to keep CHERUBS free for families. She is the charity's newsletter editor, event planner, mail clerk, secretary, accountant, graphic designer, fundraiser, grant writer, leader. She is the collective global voice of CDH families.

Those who know her personally know she feels very protective over these families and babies. When a trademark was laid upon "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness", it was Dawn who rallied 1000's of families and doctors in the CDH community and who put her own neck on the line to say "CDH Awareness belongs to everyone". We've seen her cry after putting down the phone when talking to a parent who just lost their baby. I've watched her make a dozen calls to make sure that a family had a place to stay at the hospital or to help an overseas family get in touch with a CDH specialist.

She runs CHERUBS from her home to save money. She covers the cost of the phone bill. It is Dawn who is awake at midnight answer 1 of 200 e-mails she receives each day, trying to respond to every family who requests her help. I've watched her determined face making calls for donations and sponsors to try to pull off an event and I've watched her struggle to find new ways to fund services for families.

I know that it must not be easy to do what she does every day and still grieve for her own son. She will immediately correct anyone who says that she runs CHERUBS in memory of Shane or that it is a foundation for him, letting them know in no uncertain terms that CHERUBS was created for all CDH families. She will quickly come to the aid of any CDH parent in need and will quickly correct anyone who tries to harm the CDH community. She's fierce and determined like a mother lioness protecting her cubs when it comes to tackling CDH but her heart and dedication to these families is as soft as it comes. She never puts herself above others and she blushes if anyone tries to compliment all that she's accomplished. She rarely talks about her own story and so shy, she never brags about all she's done. If you ask her, she'll tell she's "just another CDH mom".

I know that she gives up a large part of her time and her life to dedicate herself to this worthy cause. As her husband, I watch her struggle daily with the enormous workload she carries freely upon her shoulders in her determination to make life a little easier for 1000's of families she may never meet. My admiration for what she does and for who Dawn is cannot be put into words. I cannot imagine anyone in this world who works as hard for these babies as Dawn does and no one who deserves to be recognized more.

Supported charity: Duke University

CHERUBS: http://www.cdhsupport.org

Prizes and Rules

PRIZES

The charity associated with the winning nominee in this Campaign will receive a donation from Qdoba of $5,000.
Qdoba will also donate a Starlight Children’s Foundation Fun Center mobile entertainment unit to a hospital in the winning nominee’s region.

VOTING

Voting begins at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time (“MT”) on October 6, 2009 and ends at 11:59 p.m. MT on November 1, 2009. During the week of November 2, 2009, the five (5) finalists from the Voting Period will be announced. In the second part of the Campaign, the judging panel will judge the five (5) finalists and select one (1) winner, who will be announced during the week of November 16, 2009.

One vote per registered participant per day.

WINNER SELECTION

Five eligible nominees (and their respective associated charity) with the highest total number of votes will be potential finalists. One finalist nominee and associated finalist charity will be chosen by Qdoba (and an independent review committee) to be the winner of this campaign.
The winner will be announced on the Qmmunity Website during the week of November 16, 2009.

PARTICIPATION AGE

You must be 18 years of age and a resident of the United States.

For full Terms and Conditions Click Here

Monday, August 10, 2009

Angel Ball Baskets

CHERUBS Angel Ball
http://www.cherubsangelball.org

Our annual Angel Ball will be held on October 30th in Durham, NC. We encourage all of you to come and attend. Money raised for CHERUBS will go to our CDH Family Support Fund.

(photo by Melody McBride)

We need baskets and other items for our silent auction! We encourage members to donate baskets in honor or in memory of their cherubs. Last year we had dozens of baskets in many different themes. This year we hope to have over 50 baskets. Here are a few ideas of basket themes....

Disney - antique Disney pieces, gift certificate to the Disney Store, or even tickets to Disney if you can afford to donate them

Noah's Ark - tickets to the Asheboro zoo, books on animals, "adopt" a zoo animal

Stars & Moons - buy a star, books on constellations, telescope, gift certificate to the UNC Planetarium

Butterflies - gift certificates to our local butterfly house. Also books on butterflies, maybe jewelry or ornaments of butterflies.

Dragonflies - books, photos, jewelry, ornaments, the movie Dragonfly on DVD

Sports - Duke, NC State and UNC baskets would be great items here in the Triangle! So would a Carolina Hurricanes basket for hockey fans or Durham Bulls or Carolina Mudcats basket for baseball.

Garden basket - seeds, gloves, small tools, bulbs, plant vitamins, book on gardening

Electronics - cell phone, ipod, chargers, etc... lots of electronics stores are franchises with local owners who will be more likely to donate

Games - big basket full of the traditional board games.. Monopoly, Scrabble, Yahtzee, etc

Photography Theme - you could include a digital camera, memory card, gift certificate to have prints made, picture frames, photo album, etc

We are also looking for celebrity autographed items to auction off. If you can help us to contact celebrities or can donate items, please contact us.