A Lesson Learned From an 11 Year Old

I'm a long ways from being 11 years old. Matter of fact, 11 years old is so far in the rear view mirror that I really can't remember what it feels like to be 11 years old any more. Then I met Dane.

As a medical fundraiser for Hunstville Hospital I have the honor to meet multiple people every day, and they all have a story. Dane’s story isn’t a complicated one but it’s one that we all need to remember. It can be summed up like this…”Take a moment and think of someone else who is having a worse day than you are.” 

Not only did Dane do that, he did something about it. 

Dane took something that was on his heart, came up with a plan, executed his plan and then gave it away with the enthusiasm that only an 11 year old boy can.

Dane, along with his mom’s help, donated 40 care packages for the children being treated at our St. Jude Children’s Clinic at Huntsville Hospital. He wanted to try and make their day a little brighter by giving them things to do while they are undergoing their treatments for pediatric cancer or pediatric blood disorders.

Dane didn’t just ask his mother for the money to purchase these activity books he raised the money to purchase these activity books and all the things that went along with the care packages. He raised over a $1,000 by selling Krispy Kreme donuts to friends, family and people he didn’t even know. He presented these activity packages yesterday to the St. Jude Children’s Clinic Medical Director, Dr. Jennifer Cox, and Child Life Specialist, Mr. Eugene Johnson.   While making the presentation Dane could barely keep his enthusiasm in check. His passion for doing something for someone other than himself almost brought tears to my eyes.

Dane, I do want to express my gratitude for the gift you made to some really sick children but on a personal level I want to say “thank you” for reminding me, we all need to do things that we are truly passionate about. 

If it’s helping people, animals, the environment or (insert your passion here) we need these passionate causes in our lives to reflect the best parts of ourselves to the rest of the world. It took an 11 year old boy’s enthusiasm to remind a soon to be 49 year old boy to go and be your PASSION, because without it we are just going through the motions.