The Story Of Maddox Alexander: May 2013

Monday, May 13, 2013

Maddox's Miles for Spina Bifida -- ALL The Details Of The 2K

Mackenzie and I will be holding our FIRST Annual Maddox's Miles For Spina Bifida! All The Details Are To Follow:

***There are more blog posts to come, I just needed to get registration going! But, I will keep blogging and bring you up to date and plan to keep it going! Check below this post though because I plan to keep this one at the top until after the event!***

WHAT: Maddox's Miles For Spina Bifida is a 2K Run/Walk for Adults/Children to benefit Maddox's Spina Bifida related Needs

WHEN: May 18, 2013

We will start the event at 10:00. Adults will run/walk at 10:20. Children will run/walk at 10:45 or after all adults are finished, whichever is later.

(If Children want their parents to walk with them, I think at this point that'd be best done during the children's time, I may change that based on how many adults and children register. You can also email me if you think you would like to do a family walk or walk with your child and I may add another time slot.)

WHERE: Tabb High School Outdoor Track

4431 Big Bethel Road

Yorktown, VA 23693

COST: Adults will be $25 - You can select T-Shirt Size Below From Drop Down Menu At The Top Left...If registering for more than one, you will have to do the process of "adding to cart" X amount of times. -- I do NOT think you can see PayPal buttons on mobile site!

Children will be $20 (13 and under) - You can select T-Shirt Size Below From Drop Down Menu At The Top Left...If registering for more than one, you will have to do the process of "adding to cart" X amount of times. -- I do NOT think you can see PayPal buttons on mobile site!

ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL END ON MAY 3rd (REGISTRATION CAN BE DONE ONLINE AFTER MAY 3rd, BUT JUST LIKE WALK UP, I CANNOT GAURANTEE SHIRTS DAY OF EVENT OR IN YOUR SIZE)-- I WILL HAVE WALK UP REGISTRATION AND WILL ONLY ACCEPT CASH OR CHECK, I CANNOT GAURANTEE SHIRTS DAY OF EVENT OR IN YOUR SIZE -- I AM ORDERING EXTRAS TO HAVE DAY OF AND ALREADY HAVE A 2nd ORDER PLACED FOR IF/WHEN I RUN OUT!

We will have an M.C. that will play music throughout. I am looking for face painters or someone who can do balloon animals or some sort of entertainment for the children. If you know anyone or are someone who would be willing to donate their time, please get them in contact with me. THANK YOU!

I'm also looking for any items to raffle such as gift cards to local restaurants if you work at one and can have them donated. If you represent a home party business and would like to donate an item or items to be raffled, you can put your business cards out along with catalogs out to try and generate business! I already have a representative from Silpada willing to donate and am only taking one from each company.THANK YOU!

DONATIONS can be made at the event or through PayPal At The Top Left! -- I do NOT think you can see PayPal buttons on mobile site!

***My friend (and travel agent) Mary Kraemer has offered to make a donation any and every time someone books a vacation with her and mentions "Maddox"!

It's a great way to have a wonderful vacation *and* do something great for Maddox! So, if you're already eyeing your next getaway, talk it over with Mary, she is GREAT! It'd be a WIN for her and for Maddox!

Mary's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/amazingvacationsbymarykraemer, her website is VacationsByMary.com, and her email is MaryK@CruisingCo.com***

If you are OUT OF STATE and would like to purchase T-Shirts to support Maddox, I am willing to ship! They will be $20 for Adults, $15 for Children and $5 flat rate shipping.

ALL BUTTONS ARE ON TOP LEFT!

Any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to email me at MaddoxsBlog@Gmail.com

WHY I decided to have a benefit for Maddox...

As soon as Maddox was born, I felt called to ACTION! I know a HUGE part of this is the distance between us and how helpless I feel from here, but before I left for my FIRST trip to CT, my wheels were spinning, I intended to do SOMETHING like this. My thoughts are...now and in the future, we really don't know what Maddox's needs will be. I, as Maddox's Aunt, do NOT ever want my baby to go without something because insurance doesn't cover it or whatever bullsh!t reason there may be that something he NEEDS cannot be provided. I KNOW that his parents will do EVERYTHING in their power to make sure he has the BEST care, BEST therapies, BEST of EVERYTHING, NO ONE will let Maddox go without, but again, we do not know what the future holds as Maddox is just a baby. Plus, there could be unexpected travel expenses for doctors, time off from work, etc...who knows. As this little baby's aunt (maybe his over bearing aunt), I want to make sure, just as his parents and the rest of his family and anyone who loves him does, that he always receives the best care, the care he needs, the care he deserves, and ANY and EVERYthing he may ever need. So, that is where this came from.

In addition to that, this blog and this work is a way to channel my heartache (due to missing him from distance) into positive action. When I work FOR Maddox, I miss him all the same, but it is channeled differently and instead of crying, I am positive and excited about the things I'm trying to do.

A HUGE part of this and maybe this should be higher up, but I just ramble...if you haven't noticed, is that I'd like to educate people about Spina Bifida. Most people weren't sure what it was when I told them what was happening. I'd like to share info and raise awareness for Spina Bifida with anyone who will read or listen. When I heard SPINA BIFIDA, there wasn't much out there besides the definitions of the three types, and I'll admit, I'd heard of it, but really didn't know anything about it. I'm learning as we all go! As a matter of fact, auto correct on my phone does NOT recognize Spina Bifida and as I type this, the spell check doesn't recognize it either. That bothers me and to me only proves the lack of information and awareness that I VERY quickly discovered.

Mack also wanted to help Maddox and other babies once she knew and understood the full scope of things...how could I NOT do that?!? I said I did, too! I hope to keep my fundraising efforts up and keep going and get bigger and bigger and help babies beyond Maddox.

Last, but not least, a dream of mine has always been to one day start a charity or non profit, I could never narrow down my cause, and there are SO many out there...I always felt overwhelmed and never knew where or how to start. Then, Maddox entered my life and gave me my reasons, push, and motivation, and may help me achieve my dream...I'd love for this to eventually be a charity in Maddox's name...one more gift that little miracle of a baby has GIVEN me. He has given me so much, I want to give back to him and hopefully one day give to others in honor of this AMAZING little guy who has pretty much changed my life.

That's my WHY!

A Quick THANK YOU!

I just wanted to give a quick thank you to:

Everyone who has read the blog

Shared the Blog

Registered for the event

Donated money, items, or time to the event

Supported me in making this dream a reality

Everyone who has sent me some type of message, whether it's a text, email or Facebook message - they make me realize that what I set out to do is what is happening and they have touched my heart and soul and keep me going - If I could ask ONE thing, I'd LOVE if people left their comments on the blog so that Maddox's parents, Brandon and Kelly, could read the comments.

I cannot wait for what will probably be my next post...my AFTER the event post to share all about the event and give credit where credit is due!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

A Mother's Day post about Maddox's AMAZING Mom, Kelly!

I don't even know where to begin, because there are SO many good things to say about Kelly, but I feel a very strong need to dedicate a post to her right now! Obviously I mention her a lot, she is Maddox's AMAZING Mom and a huge part of his story. Since I've met her, which wasn't so long ago, I knew she was a great person. Seeing her as a Mom to the amazing blessing that Maddox has been leaves me almost speechless. I don't know how to describe her to people other than amazing...I need a thesaurus. My heart is so full of love for this new member of my family that I could not be more proud to call my sister in law. Beyond the Mom she is, I think of how lucky I am that she and I are able to hit it off and communicate one on one and that I am able to hear about Maddox through her and get pics from her. If I could choose, I'd rather have her be a great Mom and a horrible sister in law, but to get BOTH, I'm lucky! She works so hard on a daily basis with that AMAZING baby that Maddox is in an effort to teach him everything other babies can do, if only in a different way. I believe that between Kelly's efforts and love and what I saw in Maddox's face the first time I held him in the NICU, that I find it hard to believe that Maddox will not walk ONE day! But, if he doesn't, that's okay, too.

The last post was rather grim, but since then, well right after, Kelly worked on teaching him to roll over on an incline and was quickly SUCCESSFUL (HUGE round of applause, PLEASE!!!)!!! There is a video of him rolling over, which I loooove on Facebook, but I can't figure out how to get it here...sorry.

So, in closing, thank you Kelly for being a friend, a wonderful sister in law, a loving aunt, Maddox's AMAZING Mom, a wonderful soul mate to Brandon, and a much loved daughter in law to my Dad and Jane! We all love you sooo much! I'm so happy that you had a wonderful Mother's Day with your boys! You deserve it! Xoxo