Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation: Sometimes it's the "little things"...that help the most!

During Rowan's most recent hospital stay, I was able to speak with several different hospital staff members to discuss additional ways that our foundation could assist them this year. Luckily, I had the opportunity to meet with employees involved in Case Management, Nursing, Child Life, Art Therapy, and Social Work at the hospital. I asked each of them what they felt some of the immediate needs were for them to be able to help young patients and their parents, especially during this extremely busy time of year. They gave me some great ideas, and Rowan and I got right on it once he was finally discharged. Below are some pictures that show some of the ways we were able to bless the patients and parents, through the items we donated to Methodist Children's Hospital yesterday, as well as some more that we are working on right now. It was an honor and a blessing to our foundation, to know that we can help, even just a little bit.

~One area where there was an immediate need was for items that could be used to help some of the young respiratory patients. This is a tough time of year for patients with asthma and RSV. Sometimes they aren't as willing to blow into the flow-meters, so the staff suggested we could donate bubbles, bubble wands, blow out toys, and noisemakers. They said that items like that help make it a brighter, prettier, almost fun activity for the patients, rather than a medical chore. So, here is a tub we filled with a variety of those items. We hope and pray that lots and lots of kids will benefit from this donation.

~The emergency room department also said that often times they have children who are in need of a change of undergarments. So, we purchased nearly 150 pairs of boys and girls underwear from size 2T to 18/20. Here are a couple tubs filled with all of these necessities. Sometimes it's the littlest thing that can be the biggest need, and we were happy to help out in this area.

~Toiletry kits was an item that was mentioned by every single employee we asked for ideas. I also know from experience that this is something that I could have used on multiple occasions. When you are rushing your child to the ER, you don't exactly have time to stop and pack...for them, or for yourself. Having the basic supplies like shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a comb, etc. can be so important to a parent who will be staying overnight with their sick child, sometimes for days and days in a row. We purchased both men's and women's basic toiletry kits for parents, and then decided to add a few more items. We bought body wash, nail clippers, and razors as well. We plan on adding those items to all the bags and delivering the toiletry kits to the hospital next week. I know these will be appreciated by many, because I know how bad I have needed one in the past.

~Bathing and caring for an infant or young toddler in the hospital can be challenging at times, and we wanted to bless those families in some small way as well. Rowan and I made an assembly line of baby products (and even worked that topic: "assembly lines" into our homeschooling lesson this week:) and created little tubs of infant care kits. We made both boy and girl themed kits with sweet smelling baby wash, soft baby sponges, safety infant nail clippers, q-tips, and baby teethers. Not only was it fun, it was rewarding, because I know they will be put to good use. Here are some photos of those kits, and Rowan helping me put them together.

~Dirty laundry can really start to pile up when your child is in the hospital for days on end. The child can of course wear hospital gowns and the hospital will launder those, but parents aren't so lucky. The HEM/ONC/TRANSPLANT unit at the hospital does have a washer and dryer for their patients/parents but the laundry detergent and supplies are all donated items. So, we purchased enough individual laundry detergent pods and fabric softener kits for 80 loads of laundry, and will drop that off at the hospital next week. Living nearly an hour away from the hospital myself, I know how important this is, and how much it will help. I just wish I could go actually do their laundry for them myself...maybe someday:)

Thankfully Rowan was feeling well enough after his infusion clinic appointment to help me deliver some of the goodies to the Child Life Department at Methodist Children's Hospital yesterday. They were so grateful, and actually told us that they had patients waiting in the ER to be admitted that could use some of the items we just brought. It was so wonderful to be able to do this for them, and an amazing opportunity to turn something bad into good. We have spent 800-900 days hospitalized with Rowan ourselves, so we know how difficult those times can be, and often times it is the littlest things that have meant the most to us. To now be able to use the foundation that we started in his name, to give some of those "little things" back, to other parents just like us... well, I just feel like we have come full circle.

Thank you to everyone who has ever prayed for, donated to, participated in an event for, or contributed in any way to the Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation. You helped make this donation trip possible, and we are confident that many parents and their young children who are patients, will benefit from your generosity. God bless you all...from the bottom of our hearts...Rowan's, and the entire Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation!