Rock Your Journey 2024

Why Rock Your Journey?

I I recently had a young lady at one of our school programs ask me why I was doing this event? The answer is easy, the explanation of the answer a bit more complicated. The answer? Children going through treatment for a catastrophic illness or injury deserve to be treated with respect, admired for their bravery, and given the same accolades for their journey as any “star” might be for theirs. The reasoning behind the answer begins as long ago as 1991 when my son, Michael, returned to school after open-heart surgery. The journey our family traveled not only with a child having open-heart surgery, but one with cancer took a toll, I won’t lie. I didn’t realize at the time just how much, but it did. My son who underwent cancer treatment was only three when he was diagnosed. We didn’t have to worry about other children bullying him. Isolating him, etc. We didn’t have social media and we didn’t have the outreach programs available today. We learned to lean on each other. Unfortunately, he still felt segregation at times from his scars.

When Michael had open-heart surgery he was nine. We still didn’t have social media, there weren’t any outreach programs, however, we had an AMAZING school nurse who took it upon herself to make his return to school an event for the ages. She brought in a heart to show the children exactly what the surgery consisted of, she explained what types of restrictions he might have and how he would like to be treated. He was anxious when he headed back to school that day, as was I, but he came home feeling like a rock star! I will always be indebted to her for her wisdom, kindness, and foresight of what Michael would be facing.

Fast forward to 2014 . . . during a moment of my time volunteering at NCH. I sat talking with a young lady undergoing cancer treatment and as we scrap-booked (We like to call it a gift of Memories) she began to open up to me about her journey. She told me she had recently been transferred to another high school due to the fact she was constantly bullied. She was made fun of for her loss of hair, the catheter implanted in her chest, and the fact she was pale and tired. She tried and tried to handle it, but it was too much. Unfortunately she lived in an age of social media which only compounded the situation by allowing her tormentors to “follow” her wherever she went. I do not know how the story ends . . . but it left an indelible mark in my heart.

Several months later during one of my visits a young man came in to play a game and we started to talk. He didn’t want to scrapbook, but he did need an ear. He told me he was worried about his girlfriend. He worried when he returned from the hospital she was going to break up with him because her parents did not want her to date him due to his illness. He pulled his phone out and showed me pictures of her, his family, her family, and he was so proud. I was again saddened by someone behaving like this and it really stayed with me. I began to start really listening to the families, kids, grandparents talk when they came into scrapbook and I was shocked how much this seemed to play a role in so many of the children’s journeys. Many of the kids thankfully were also cheered on by their community, school, and families, however they still felt an isolation caused from those who truly did not understand the strength and courage required to undergo such a journey. A journey that hopes for survival physically, but just as importantly emotionally.

So began the little spark of thought that it is time to regard these kids as warriors who have rocked a journey many adults could not travel! It is time to take the mantel of understanding and place it upon the shoulders of those who do not comprehend exactly what it takes to march the corridors these kids face. I had someone recently say, innocently and honestly, “Mindy, you cannot change how people feel about illness and being uncomfortable, especially with children.”
However, I believe we can. I hope you believe it too.

Mindy Atwood, CEO
Patches of Light
614-946-7544