Soliciting...

Today after a slight "family disagreement"  someone told me I was "soliciting" for donations to Children's.    Soliciting seems like such a sterile word.   Such a harsh word. So business- like.  Not the warm and fuzzy I was going for with FUNDRAISING.   So here it is.   My children are the very reason I breathe.  There is not a single thing more important to me on this Earth than Christian, Julia and Olivia Kelly.  I would die for them.  I live my life FOR them.   In 2010 when Olivia completed our family and was so very sick, I literally thought I was going to die from the stress of her illness.   I knew I had two other children to take care of, and that kept me going, but the waiting, the testing, the unanswered questions, sucked the life out of me.   It was a long, long road.  It was covered in bumps along the way.    Since those days are a thing of the past and my daughter is the most delightful, fearless, beautiful four year old I know, I have been humbled.    Would I  have ever walked 2 miles for anything 4 years ago? Probably not.   Today,  I jump at the opportunity to help the hospital that saved my daughter.      I am not "soliciting" I am simply trying to give back.  Paying it forward.  My daughter was lucky.  Some parents are not so lucky.  Some have children with terminal illness.  Some kids never walk or talk or do anything with normalcy.  Olivia does, and it's not because of luck its because of the dedicated men and women at Children's Hospital Boston who meticulously FIXED her problem. 

Olivia had a 1 in 20,000 congenital defect.  There are kids in Children's Hospital with diseases even more rare, that need research.  Olivia's surgeon is the man who developed the robotic laryngeal cleft repair.   That research takes money, and we all know that money doesn't grow on trees.  So that  family who may not have the best health insurance, or the ability to pay for uncovered expenses  should just be left to suffer?  Without fundraising this hospital couldn't do what it does! 

So, maybe I am soliciting.  I'm asking people who are close to me or even not so close (Ive had complete strangers donate to my page, and it truly warms my heart) to help the cause in the name of my daughter who fought until she won.    My baby won her battle...and those who have not reached victory yet deserve the chance.  Their parents deserve to know every possible treatment will be available to them regardless of their socioeconomic status.   If  that's soliciting, well then, call me a solicitor. 

My daughter is alive and well today because of a building with a team of amazing people.   I'm not trying to raise money for the benefit of me, or my family. I am doing it for the thousands of children who aren't quite there yet.

It's a personal choice, support our mission or don't.  If you don't, I understand.  But please do not look down upon me as a "beggar" for trying to raise money for those less fortunate than myself.  No, I don't know these kids, or their parents, and I don't know their stories, but what I do know is that no child should suffer and they all should be afforded the best possible care.  

And that is why we,  The Kelly Family and The Foley Family are TEAM OLIVIA STRONG.