Thank you from the Stone Family!
June 24 2008
Thank you from the Stone Family!
Thank you ‘Help a Child Smile’ for the wonderful trip given to us in Florida at Give Kids the World! It really felt like we were being given the world! Everyone was so warm and friendly from the day we arrived on February 17, 2008 until the day we left.
Our son Matthew was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma April 13th 2006 at the age of 14. There has never been a darker time for our family as many of you can relate. In times like these you can feel very separated as a family. It was hard to watch Matt suffer in a place that none of us could fully go…part of the journey he had to do alone. It was very hard for Matt’s sister Natalie and older brother Aaron to see their brother suffer. Matt is doing well now and off treatment, so we were very very blessed to be sent away on this fabulous trip while Matt was well, and rekindle family time together.
My husband Mike and I were so grateful to watch our kids having such a great time laughing together, playing together and eating as much ice cream as their stomachs could possibly hold.
The first day of orientation at Give Kids the World had me weepy, hearing everything they do for so many suffering children. There are over 50,000 stars with the names of children up in the Castle of Miracles. It was a very special moment for our family being able to see Matt’s star added to the 50,000 others.
We went to many theme parks, but there was just not enough time to get everything in. We made the most of every moment in the parks (the kids are never too old for Mickey and the characters), playing games in our villa, lying by the pool or swimming in the ocean. We enjoyed every second.
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you…this trip like No other will always be etched in our hearts and minds forever. Our lives have been touched with cancer but through this, we have been showered with so much love and care…we are forever changed.
…and to think this all started with one small dream…to ‘help a child smile’…Matt smiled…and we are blessed!
Mike, Sharon, Aaron, Matthew and Natalie Stone
Thank you ‘Help a Child Smile’ for the wonderful trip given to us in Florida at Give Kids the World! It really felt like we were being given the world! Everyone was so warm and friendly from the day we arrived on February 17, 2008 until the day we left.
Our son Matthew was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma April 13th 2006 at the age of 14. There has never been a darker time for our family as many of you can relate. In times like these you can feel very separated as a family. It was hard to watch Matt suffer in a place that none of us could fully go…part of the journey he had to do alone. It was very hard for Matt’s sister Natalie and older brother Aaron to see their brother suffer. Matt is doing well now and off treatment, so we were very very blessed to be sent away on this fabulous trip while Matt was well, and rekindle family time together.
My husband Mike and I were so grateful to watch our kids having such a great time laughing together, playing together and eating as much ice cream as their stomachs could possibly hold.
The first day of orientation at Give Kids the World had me weepy, hearing everything they do for so many suffering children. There are over 50,000 stars with the names of children up in the Castle of Miracles. It was a very special moment for our family being able to see Matt’s star added to the 50,000 others.
We went to many theme parks, but there was just not enough time to get everything in. We made the most of every moment in the parks (the kids are never too old for Mickey and the characters), playing games in our villa, lying by the pool or swimming in the ocean. We enjoyed every second.
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you…this trip like No other will always be etched in our hearts and minds forever. Our lives have been touched with cancer but through this, we have been showered with so much love and care…we are forever changed.
…and to think this all started with one small dream…to ‘help a child smile’…Matt smiled…and we are blessed!
Mike, Sharon, Aaron, Matthew and Natalie Stone
