Lawyers To The Rescue Blog
I watched this video yesterday on YouTube® that truly touched my heart. Julien Collot is a six-year-old child with Adult AML Leukemia who is suffering from Graft vs. Host Disease–a serious complication as a result of his bone marrow transplant. Julien is a survivor. He has endured Adult Leukemia, two bone marrow transplants and chemotherapy. Most adults would crumble to pieces when faced with what Julien has endured.
This little boy’s words are filled with wisdom of an old soul; the wisdom of a Buddah. In Julien’s own words, “I believe in the Ying and Yang, the balance between good and bad and sweet and sour. It’s all in the heart.” This child embodies the principles of “strength” and “resilience” in face of challenge and adversity.
As a mother of two I thought long and hard about what his parents went through and the fear and worry they lived with on a daily basis. Donation is a great way to help, but what else can we do to help parents and children like Julien and his family? Here are some suggestions:
1. The more specific you can be in your offers to help, the better. Ask “I am going to the grocery store today. Can you give me your list of groceries so I can pick them up for you?” Or, if they have another child, “I’m picking up my son from school today and can bring your son home, too.” Parents are usually either too busy worrying to think of asking for help or feel that the people around them are already doing too much and are embarrassed to ask for more help.
2. Parents always appreciate help for their children more than they want it for themselves. Anything people did to help their children, especially things like a fun play, games and reading stories to them is very meaningful.
3. Offer to clean their house for when they come home from the hospital.
4. Bring some magazines or a good book for the parents to read.
5. Bring reading books, puzzle books, and activity books to the hospital, especially for the siblings. Many parents need to keep the other siblings occupied while in the hospital.
6. Offer to babysit; give the parents one less thing to worry about.
7. Offer to stay with their child at the hospital so the parents can get a break to shower or take nap.
8. If the patient is a teen offer to provide transportation so that their friends can come to visit them in the hospital. It is very important for teens to have their friends. They need the distraction and support.
Just remember kids need to laugh and be distracted from what they are going through. Bring them funny movies; be silly and fun when you visit them; come with a list of jokes; surprise them and come as a clown; whatever you can do to cheer them up is what they need most.
To read Julien’s full story visit this link
Julien’s Full Story
To make donation to Julien 501c3 Fund
Make a Donation