RUNNING FOR MOM

This is so cool. This man is a very close friend of my parents. He owns a company called Chariot Eagle Industries and has factories in Florida and Arizona. He runs the Boston Marathon with the Dana Farber Team. Last year and this year he ran with my Mom's name on his jersey. Very emotion for our family. Thank you Bob!!



"Tell Bernadine I once again am running the Boston Marathon in her honor. When I am in Boston I get to go to the dinner honoring all the Dana Farber runners, some of who are survivors, and the kids and adults from the area being treated at DF. Through most of my years I just didn't realize the courage and amazing attitudes of those affected with cancer.
Of course I will continue to pray and think of Bernadine and all that you guys are going though. God's richest blessings."

Bob

SWEET 16

So, how do you celebrate your 16th Birthday when you're a patient at Duke Children's Hospital?
Well, with a very fun Karaoke party of course!!!

Shantel's Birthday is on Nov. 11th so we had her party this past Saturday in the lobby of the Children's Health Center. Our theme was music and fun......and did we ever have both!!!!

Mr. Skid is a professional Karaoke man. He was just AWESOME!!! Mr. Skid does karaoke every Thursday night on the children's unit. He has this incredible mixer and interacts with the crowd with singing himself. I think Shantel is his biggest fan! She loves Thursday night Karaoke and Mr. Skid knows what she sings and has it already cued up. Thank you Mr. Skid for being a part of Shantel's special day!

Now I have to tell you about Spencer. He works in Radiology. Spencer was like our Master of Ceremony. All I can say is he is the most hilarious, funny, energetic, fun, happy, creative, entertaining person I have ever met!!! Thank you Spencer for getting everyone in the party spirit!

You may be wondering about the three cakes. They each have a story. The middle cake is Shantel's and we put a picture of her being silly at home playing her guitar and dancing around. The cake on the right is her "babies" cake. Shantel had only lived with us for about 6 weeks before her 13th Birthday. One of the things we did for Shantel when she came to live with us was to think of something that was special and just hers. We came up with going to Build A Bear on each birthday. So her bears have the same birthday as she does. The cake on the left is Molly's, Shantel's dog. Molly we rescued so we don't know her age so we guessed with the help of our Vet. Molly turns 3, and you guessed it, her birthday is on Nov. 11th. So three cakes is our tradition.

Here are some pictures of our sweet girls 16th special day. Thank you all for making it so very, very special!!!



Shantel primping for her party

Shantel and Spencer

The princess singing Karaoke

Dr. and Mrs. Majure, Shantel's primary Pulmonologist

Former Duke nurse Andrea came from Washington DC

Shantel loves Karla, one of her RN's and Atia, CNA

Dr. Majure,Andrea and Charlotte w/ Shantel doing Proud Mary

"Proud Mary" with Charlotte.......really getting into it!!!

Jamie her Respiratory Therapist boyfriend

Awesome music man, Mr. Skid

BOO

Halloween at Duke Children's........Thank you to all the Nurses and staff that make holidays so special for the kids!!

Here is Shantel with her dog Baby (Baby always goes to the hospital with Shantel) leading the Halloween Parade. The bike she is on is a special bike for kids with pulmonary issues. It's almost like self propelling. Shantel called it her limo.

Fun was had by all!!!


Shantel leading the parade

Shantel and Hannah Montana
AKA Caroline, Child Life Specialist


Here comes the parade!

Trick or Treat!