Back in September my oldest daughter contracted pneumonia and we had to stay at Riley Children’s Hospital for a week or so. As a 7 ½ year old, the hospital stay made a tremendous impact on her. It is scary for a child, as well as a lot coming at an adult. During our stay, we read, watched movies, visited the Family Life playroom, had special visitors (including a little sister who was so worried about her big sister), the two most gentle pet therapy dogs, and of course sleep and taking it easy.
While at the hospital, we met a special friend who lives about two hours north of our hometown. Despite having spent much of her young life in various surgeries and chemotherapies, she would knock on the door trim every chance she got, to see how Alex was doing. This little bit of sweetness has already gone through so much, but there she was, positive and genuinely concerned about Alex and the other children on the floor.
Since being out of the hospital Alex has reflected a lot about her experience at the hospital. My brave little girl realized that there are other kids and families who may be in a similar situation. We need to think positive, be thankful for what we have and to know that we are loved.
Alex and Sydney have always had such big hearts. With those big hearts we have started a family project called Petunia and Marigold. Petunia and Marigold are the girls’ favorite flowers. The goal of our family project is to help the children at Riley Children’s Hospital. If you would ask the spearheader of our family project, Alex, why? She will gladly share with you that she wants to do something nice in the appreciation for the way she was treated by the staff and especially her fellow patients.
We have opened an Etsy store called Petunia and Marigold. On the website, we will sell various handmade items. Each week, we will add new items, and all of the proceeds from these sales will go toward the purchase of books, coloring books, puzzles and activity items for Riley Children’s Hospital...for the kids to keep at all age levels!
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| Alex designed the banner of our family project storefront using markers and photographs from a DK gardening book that the girls received from a family friend. |
