On Monday night, the Red Sox wives and I participated in the 4th annual Christopher's Haven fashion show. Christopher's Haven is an organization that provides low-income housing for pediatric cancer patients who are receiving treatment at Boston hospitals.
Lakyn Holt, fellow Red Sox wife, and I worked on coordinating this event on behalf of the Red Sox since January! Our work entailed asking donors to donate items for the silent auction, finding sponsors for the event, setting up fittings for the Red Sox and Bruins wives and their kids at Crush Boutique and Tiny Hanger, putting together gift bags for the attendees, and helping out in any other way possible.
Monday night, we finally saw how much our hard work and effort paid off. From this event, we raised enough money to fund seven loft apartments, a new recreation room, and host three more families at Christopher's Haven. Although it was such a relief and a great feeling to watch the event that we had worked so hard on, come together successfully, I was beyond moved by an occurrence that happened while the Red Sox wives and I were lining up for the runway.
The fashion show portion of the event consisted of Red Sox wives modeling with their kids, and Christopher's Haven patients modeling with their parents. Since Drew and I don't have kids, I was scheduled to model with the leader of the organization's son. The boy was super nice and I was excited to model with him. While we were waiting in line to walk onto the runway, a little girl in a wheel chair right behind me was crying. She couldn't speak English and the girls around her were trying to communicate but they couldn't speak Spanish. I turned around and started speaking to her in Spanish. Her name was Antonia and she had cancer. She was scared from all of the commotion going on around her and she didn't want to go on the runway. I bent down and asked her if she would go with me. She didn't say anything back. As we continued to move to the front of the line I continued to speak to Antonia in Spanish and told her that she would have fun and everyone would clap for her. She reached her arms up to me and gave me a big hug around my neck. We switched the order and I paired up with her.
When it was our turn to model, I prayed I wouldn't trip in my four inch stiletto heels while pushing her in her wheel chair across the runway. When we entered the runway, the audience began to cheer loudly. Although Antonia sat quietly in her chair soaking up the atmosphere, I knew she was smiling inside.
Once we were done, I pushed her back to her mom and she and her mother both gave me huge hug. Tears filled my eyes as all I could think about was the challenges Antonia faces on a daily basis. Not only is she battling cancer and can't walk, but she can't understand English. The obstacles she faces are much tougher than any obstacles I could ever fathom. I pray that she and her family receive the best care they can get and that she overcomes this vicious disease.
Thanks Lindsay for calling me in January and asking me to help this organization plan their 4th annual fashion show. Thanks Lakyn for helping me coordinate this fashion show and working so hard on it. Thanks to the Christopher's haven organization and all of the vendors involved in the event.
I didn't realize that in just a few months, an organization that I was once unfamiliar with, would challenge me, reward me, and bring me memories that will last a lifetime.
"We are Christopher’s Haven. We are a home for kids and their families while they battle cancer. Our home is more than a place to stay, it’s a support system to help with things large and small, and a community where families can be together, share a laugh, be comforted, and comfort others. Chistopher’s Haven allows kids and families to focus their energies on beating the cancer that has attacked them all. We know that medicine can heal the patient. Christopher’s Haven helps heal the child." - Christopher's Haven
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Carolyn
