Nov. 26, 2009

It’s funny the things my kids have come up with to be thankful for. Things like pizza and pianos, snowmen and flamingos. It’s inspiring and precious, and solidifies something I’ve known for quite a while: I’m crazy about these kids.

Since Mr. Cleaver and I are focusing on personal gratitude, we’ve been thinking about how lucky we are to have healthy children. Hey, there’s nothing like a kid that’s hearty enough to spank, right? (Kidding, just kidding.)

But we’re not all so lucky.

Let me tell you about Tegan Lyn. Tegan is a delightful 2-year-old girl who miraculously landed in the lap of two people who seriously wanted a baby. When Angela and Eric Salce found out that after five years of trying, they had finally conceived a child, you could hear their shout of Hallelujah from 37 states away.

Last April, just after her second birthday, Tegan stopped using her left hand. After three weeks of talking to doctors and testing, on April 30 the Salce family learned that their precious baby girl had a malignant rhabdoid tumor in her shoulder.

Since May, Tegan, her mother and her grandmother Jacque have been living in the Ronald McDonald apartments in Salt Lake City, undergoing months of chemotherapy, massive surgery and radiation, while being isolated from friends and family.

When their journey started, Tegan’s prognosis was bleak. Malignant rhabdoid tumors are devastating weeds, and in too many cases the results are bad. In addition, the Salce’s have been separated since May due to the long distance between Salt Lake City’s Primary Children’s Hospital and Chubbuck, Idaho, where their home and Eric’s job are located.

But if you’ve ever met Tegan, you know that even in the bleakest of circumstances, this girl is a little ray of angel shine. Tegan Lyn is the most delightful, friendly child to ever grace the doors of Primary Children’s. Her doctors all agree she’s a walking miracle.

Thanks to prayers, love and donations from people of every faith, the Salce’s have made it this far. Hearts have opened and strangers have given without reserve. People everywhere understand firsthand that not only is cancer devastating, it’s expensive.

But Tegan’s not out of the woods yet.

Times are tough for people everywhere, but sometimes the balm we need isn’t from getting more, it’s from giving more. There’s nothing like the feeling that comes from passing that last $10 off to someone who might need it more than you do.

And that’s what I’m asking. I’m asking you to dig into your wallet, your couch, your heart, and scrounge up $10 to help a family that’s not only hanging on with their bare fingers, but they’re doing it with a smile.

This is a trial most of us can’t even comprehend, yet the Salce’s have kept their sense of humor and their faith throughout, and they’re doing everything they can to keep their family together during these very difficult months of separation. It’s a long and scary road, but they’re not alone. All they need is people, people like you and me.

So help me. Help me be part of this family’s miracle. Help me shower them with love and well wishes and ten dollar bills, and let’s make this Black Friday count for something more than our own holiday wish lists. I’m not asking for much, just some cash and a stamp and we’re good to go.

So please send all loose change to:
Miracle for Tegan
Citizen’s Community Bank
2000 Flandro
Chubbuck, ID 83202

We can do something together. This holiday season, let’s be part of a miracle.
Visit Tegan’s blog for updates at www.teganlyn.blogspot.com.

See more at Annie's blog at regardingannie.com