10/26/2026
Today, Hazel had a clinic appointment to get cleared for her next surgery.
As we sat in the waiting room, I watched kiddos come out with Elsa dolls, Barbies, and Hot Wheels in their hands with excitement on their faces.
There was one sweet little toddler waiting with us who was so scared and upset. Bless her little heart. But after she walked through those doors, she got to pick out a toy. And for just a moment, the fear and tears turned into a little bit of joy.
As I sat there watching it all unfold, I couldn’t help but get a lump in my throat and tears swelling in my eyes. Because deep down, I had this feeling that those could be the very toys Hazel has spent years collecting. 🥹
And in that moment, I was reminded exactly why we do what we do. It’s never been just about the toys. It’s about bringing a little bit of happiness to a child on a really hard day.
And today, I got to see that happiness firsthand. ☀️🩵🧸